Check out the Dos and Don'ts for fire safety at Navratri pandals

With Navratri celebrations just round the corner, the Amdawad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has asked organisers of garba venues and pandals to follow strict fire safety rules. The AMC’s Fire and Emergency Services Department issued a public notice listing measures that must be in place before the festivities begin.

The notice says that stages and pandals should not be built near schools, hospitals, godowns with flammable goods or electric transformers. Roads leading to the pandals must be kept clear so that fire vehicles can reach the spot quickly if needed.

Crowd management has also been stressed. Organisers must allow people inside only according to the size of the pandal, keeping at least one square metre space per person. Every pandal must have two emergency exits in opposite directions, and the distance to the nearest exit should not be more than 15 metres.

No stalls or fire-prone material should be kept inside or near the stage. Diesel generators, if used, should be placed away from the pandal. Electrical wiring should be done properly using safe material and checked by an approved engineer. Light bulbs and fittings must be kept at a safe distance from cloth decorations or curtains.

Organisers have been asked to keep fire extinguishers, water drums and sand buckets ready in the pandal at all times. At least one trained person must be present round the clock to handle fire safety equipment. Clear signboards like 'No Smoking Zone' and 'Exit' must be put up inside and outside the structure.

The AMC has also made it compulsory for organisers to get a Temporary Fire Safety Certificate (FSCAT). Applications must be made online at least three days before Navratri begins, and documents must be submitted at Jamalpur Fire Station. A site inspection will then be carried out.

Officials have reminded organisers that fire safety is as important as crowd control, and warned that rules will be strictly enforced. In case of any fire emergency, citizens have been asked to call the fire helpline numbers 101 or 102 immediately.