Prayagraj : The fire department has issued a set of directives to Durga Puja committees to ensure the safety of the devotees visiting Puja pandals. Under the safety guidelines, the Puja committees have been asked not to use synthetic articles, cloths, and ropes for pandal and ensure that the height of the pandal be more than three metres and to leave around 4.5 metres of area open around the pandals.
Chief fire officer (Prayagraj) RK Pandey told TOI that the fire department has instructed the puja committees that pandals should not be set up under power lines or high voltage lines, it should be at least 15 metres away from railway tracks, power substations, and brick kiln centres and exit gates should be more than five metres in width, and distance from road should not be more than 45 metres. Pandey said, "We have asked pandal authorities to have at least two exits on opposite sides." Besides, they have also been asked to engage licensed contractors for lighting arrangements, and wires should be connected through porcelain connectors.
Pandal authorities have also been instructed to ensure that there is no firecracker brusting in and around the pandal and every pandal must have water-filled drums (of at least 200 litres) and two fire extinguishers to meet any emergency. It has also been directed that no shops be set up near pandals. The fire department has issued helpline numbers—112, 9454402863, 9454518558, and 94544185557, in case of a fire emergency.
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