Bhubaneswar: The Odisha fire & emergency service is fine‑tuning its action plan to ensure robust safety and emergency response measures for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri on July 16. Director general Sudhanshu Sarangi visited Puri on Tuesday to review preparations and assess ground arrangements. “Our priority is to ensure that every devotee feels safe and secure during the festival. We are leaving nothing to chance,” Sarangi said after the inspection.The department has drawn up contingency plans tailored to weather conditions. “If it rains, we will deploy adequate dewatering pumps. If the heat becomes unbearable, our fire tenders will sprinkle water to provide relief to devotees on the Grand Road,” Sarangi said.With lakhs of devotees expected to throng the Grand Road to pull the chariots, teams will spray water in crowded zones to ease discomfort. High‑pressure pumps will remain on standby to tackle sudden waterlogging.Medical preparedness is another key focus. Fire services personnel trained in CPR will be equipped with defibrillators and oxygen packs to respond to cases of unconsciousness. About 50 rescue personnel have received hospital training on operating the automated external defibrillator devices, also known as ‘shock machines’ to provide critical first-aid to devotees facing cardiac emergencies. “We introduced it during the festival last year. Every second counts in such situations, and our teams are ready to act instantly,” said Sarangi.To prevent drowning incidents, more than 500 trained lifeguards will be deployed along the sea beach. Around 1,500 fire service personnel will be stationed across Puri, with rapid response teams positioned along the Grand Road and beach. The department plans to mobilize 45 fire‑fighting vehicles, including an advanced rescue tender. Motorcycles fitted with extinguishers will also patrol narrow lanes inaccessible to larger vehicles. “Accessibility is crucial — we must be able to reach every corner quickly,” IGP Uma Shankar Dash said. For command and control, the department will deploy its specialized “office on wheels,” a mobile command centre enabling incident commanders to monitor and manage rescue operations directly from disaster sites.Fire personnel will be strategically positioned at the Grand Road, Jagannath temple, railway station, bus stand, sea beach, and other water bodies. Power boats will remain on standby for rescue operations in ponds and lakes. “Our teams are prepared not just for fire hazards, but for every possible emergency scenario,” Dash said.
