F&ES stops leave of firefighters during Diwali

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 17: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has stopped leave of any ture to firefighters keeping an eye on Diwali slated to be held on Thursday and Friday.

Talking to the media in Guwahati on Tuesday, DG Home Guard and Civil Defence-cum-Director of Fire and Emergency Services Dr. AP Rout said: “As many as nine fire incidents occurred in Kamrup(M) alone during Diwali last year against 17 in rest of the State. As many as 7,000 civil defence personnel have been trained to extend help to firefighters during Diwali. Apart from other vehicles, forty-four motorcycles with fire extinguishers have been kept ready so as to meet any eventuality in Greater Guwahati. I appeal to the people to give fire extinguishers to their friends and others as Diwali gifts instead of other articles as that may come to their help in the event of any fire incident breaking out during or after the festivity.”

Dr. Rout spelt out a number of do’s and don’ts for the general public during Diwali. He appealed to the people to buy fireworks only from licensed shops and keep them in closed boxes away from fire or any inflammatory materials, lighting firecrackers in open fields, discarding used fireworks in buckets filled with water, keeping water ready for extinguishing fire, revelers should wear cotton clothes, etc. He cautioned people not to touch any firecracker if it does not go off, not to use fireworks inside vehicles, etc.