Geared up with light-weight robots of their backpacks and heavy bikes modified to help in rescue and reduction works, firefighters stationed in every of the 25 sectors of the Mahakumbh Mela venue could be required to answer emergency conditions inside two to a few minutes of them being reported, a senior fireplace officer mentioned.
Mahakumbh: No spot out of attain: Bikes and robots to make sure precision and pace
As 400 million devotees are anticipated to participate within the religious grandeur of the upcoming mega spiritual truthful, the venue of which is unfold over 4,000 hectares, that may final for 45 days, guaranteeing their security stays a prime precedence for authorities. With the potential dangers posed by short-term constructions, electrical setups, and cooking areas, the hearth division has deployed fashionable applied sciences and a specialised workforce to safeguard the occasion from fireplace hazards.
One among them is bikes outfitted with fireplace extinguishing cylinders and water pumps. They are going to be essential for navigating the slim lanes inside the Kumbh space. If mandatory, the pumps can draw water from the river to rapidly douse the flames.
“There will be 80 firefighting motorbikes that will fitted with water mist systems and compressed air and foam (CAF), 125 quick response vehicles (QRVs), 120 large size water tenders, six foam tenders to ensure the safety of millions of devotees and tourists,” mentioned Pramod Sharma, the chief fireplace officer of Maha Kumbh Mela. All these preparations have been made below the supervision of director basic (Fireplace) Avinash Chandra.
“In the case of an emergency, mid-size QRVs (four-wheelers) will be our first option. And if QRVs finds it difficult to reach a location, we will rush motorbikes fitted with water mist system there.”
“Our last option will be to rush firefighters with backpacks who will leave their bikes aside and head towards the site where a fire has broken out. This is the first time we are deploying firefighting robots to tackle fire emergencies. These robots are capable of climbing stairs and extinguishing fire with precision,” a submit by the official account of Maha Kumbh on X learn.
Superintendent of police (Kumbh) Rajesh Dwivedi mentioned. “The fire department has established 53 fire stations and 26 fire posts across the venue, aiming to reach any fire incident site within three minutes. We have set up many fire hydrants, and trained firemen how to tackle a situation if fire catches in lithium battery.”
“Also, AI-powered fire detection cameras will be used to monitor potential fire outbreaks,” mentioned Kumbh further district Justice of the Peace (ADM) Vivek Chaturvedi.
These cameras can be put in all through the mela space for the primary time. These cameras will monitor fireplace incidents and immediately ship alerts to a management room, permitting fireplace stations to reply inside three minutes.
The fireplace division has requisitioned 10,000 superior fireplace extinguishers, which can be positioned in weak areas resembling akhara pandals, media tents, VIP workplaces, and different high-risk zones. Fireplace posts, staffed by 4 to five personnel, have been deployed close to these installations to make sure immediate intervention.
“Extensive preparations are in place, including the deployment of advanced fire tenders and 200 specially trained rescue teams. To control fire incidents in the camps of the akharas (Hindu monastic orders), 5,000 special fire extinguishers are also being provided,” chief fireplace officer and nodal officer for Mahakumbh Pramod Sharma mentioned.
To additional improve operational coordination, the hearth division has arrange devoted management rooms, which is able to preserve fixed communication with fireplace officers on the bottom. A meticulously crafted emergency protocol has been established to make sure a fast and efficient response in an emergency.
Moreover, the state authorities has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Uttarakhand Fireplace and Emergency Companies and the Nationwide Fireplace Service Faculty in Nagpur for exterior audits, to make sure “zero fire incidents” all through the Mela interval, officers added.
Readiness in 2019 vs in 2025
The CFO mentioned that in comparison with Kumbh 2019, considerably extra manpower and automobiles have been being deployed for the Mahakumbh. In 2019, 43 short-term fireplace stations have been arrange, however for 2025, this quantity will enhance to 50.
Equally, the variety of short-term fireplace posts will rise from 15 to twenty, and fireplace watch towers will enhance from 43 to 50. Moreover, over 7,000 fireplace hydrants can be put in, in comparison with 4,200 in 2019. The variety of fireplace reserve water tanks may also double, from 75 to greater than 150, the official mentioned.
When it comes to manpower, 1,551 personnel have been deployed in 2019, whereas this 12 months the quantity has been elevated to 2,071. The variety of fireplace automobiles has almost doubled, from 166 to 351, guaranteeing a sturdy and swift response to any fireplace incidents in the course of the occasion.
In Kumbh 2013, there have been 612 fireplace incidents, leading to six fatalities and 15 burn accidents. The 2019 Kumbh noticed solely 55 fireplace incidents, and no fatalities or burn accidents, officers identified.