Ahmedabad Ganesh Pandal Rules Tightened: 2 Fire-Safety Trained Persons Mandatory, LPG Cylinders And Firecrackers Banned

The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services has issued strict fire safety guidelines for Ganesh pandals ahead of the upcoming Ganesh Mahotsav, making round-the-clock deployment of two trained persons mandatory and banning LPG cylinders, firecrackers and other inflammable materials at pandal sites.

The guidelines were prepared following a joint meeting of senior officials from the Fire and Police departments and cover crowd capacity, emergency exits, electrical wiring, fire extinguishers and other safety measures.

2 Emergency Exits Mandatory

Every Ganesh mandap or pandal must have at least two clearly marked “EMERGENCY EXIT” points located in opposite directions.

The maximum distance a person should have to travel to reach an exit cannot exceed 15 metres. Internal fixed partitions are prohibited, while all routes must remain clear for quick evacuation.

Signboards carrying “NO SMOKING ZONE”, “EXIT” and “EMERGENCY EXIT” must be clearly visible and readable both inside and outside the pandal.

1.5-Metre Passage Required For Crowd Movement

Organisers must regulate entry according to the capacity of the pandal, with at least 1 square metre of space per person.

For seating arrangements, a passage of at least 1.5 metres must be maintained after every 10 rows and every 10 seats to facilitate movement and evacuation.

2 Trained Persons Must Be Present 24/7

Organisers must deploy two people who are trained and knowledgeable in operating fire extinguishers at the pandal round the clock throughout the festival.

The number of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment must be based on the size of the pandal. Organisers must also provide details of personnel trained to operate the equipment.

LPG Cylinders, Firecrackers Banned

Firecrackers, LPG cylinders, cooking materials, smoking equipment, open flames and other materials capable of causing a fire are prohibited inside and outside the pandal.

No stalls are allowed inside the mandap. Flammable solid or liquid materials must not be stored near or beneath the stage.

If havan, diyas or incense sticks are used for religious purposes, adequate fire safety arrangements must be made. Areas with such activities must also have the specified CI/GI sheet arrangements on the ceiling.

Pandal Location And Access For Fire Tenders

Temporary mandaps, pandals and stages must be constructed away from schools, hospitals, warehouses storing inflammable materials, furnaces, electrical substations, transformers, high-tension lines and railway lines.

Roads around the pandal must remain clear and free of obstructions so that fire tenders can reach the site without difficulty.

Electrical Wiring To Be Inspected

All electrical wiring and decorative lighting must comply with prevailing electricity laws and be inspected by a government-approved electrical engineer.

Electrical installations must follow IS-1646-1982. PVC-insulated conductors or tough rubber vulcanised wires must be used, while joints must be made with porcelain-insulated connectors.

For air-conditioned pandals and temporary structures, curtains and carpets must be treated with fire-retardant paint and meet the prescribed fire safety requirements.

NOCs And Self-Declaration Required

Organisers must follow instructions issued by the Police, Traffic and other municipal departments and obtain the required NOCs separately.

They must also submit a self-declaration confirming compliance with the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, applicable rules and regulations, National Building Code Part-4 and IS-8758.

The declaration must be notarised on a ₹300 stamp paper with a photograph, after which the Fire Department will issue a separate special identification.

Emergency Numbers To Be Displayed

A signage board outside every Ganesh pandal must display the organiser’s name and mobile number, along with the name and mobile number of the fireman or person trained in fire safety.

Emergency contact numbers for the Fire Department, Police and Ambulance must also be prominently displayed on the board.