Patna: Nearly 20,000 Durga Puja pandals across Bihar will undergo fire and security checks this festive season, with organisers facing cancellation of licences for failure to comply with mandatory safety norms. Around 1,500 major pandals, including nearly 100 in Patna, will receive special attention as the fire and emergency services department begins inspections from Friday.Fire DIG Manoj Kumar Nat said a state-level advisory had been sent to all districts. Patna has been divided into four zones for emergency preparedness, with fire tenders to be stationed at strategic locations and a separate rescue team constituted.Under the fire-safety guidelines, pandals must be at least three metres high and entrance gates at least five feet high. Each pandal must have at least two entry and two exit gates, besides trained volunteers for crowd management.Organisers have been directed to keep two drums of water and mugs ready for emergencies, maintain adequate clearance from overhead electrical lines and secure electrical wiring to prevent short circuits. Fire-hazardous stalls and shops will not be permitted inside or immediately around pandals. Havan, puja and lamp-lighting have been advised outside the main pandal area.Meanwhile, the district administration has intensified preparations for law and order, crowd management and safe conduct of puja and immersion programmes.District magistrate Kundan Kumar on Thursday directed officials to maintain continuous surveillance at sensitive locations and warned of strict action against anti-social elements. All puja committees will be required to obtain licences and comply with the conditions.“Large and important pandals will undergo fire audits, while CCTV cameras, adequate lighting, barricading and separate entry arrangements for male and female devotees will be provided wherever necessary,” the DM said.Designated artificial immersion ghats and ponds will have barricading, lighting, divers, rescue teams and disaster-management equipment. Immersion processions will also be monitored through drones, while organisers will have to adhere to designated routes, timings and other conditions.Provocative songs, inflammatory slogans, prohibited weapons and objectionable tableaux or images will not be allowed. Loudspeakers can be used only with permission and will remain prohibited between 10pm and 6am. Police will also monitor social media for rumours, misleading information and objectionable posts that could create communal or social tension.An Integrated Command and Control Room has been set up for coordination, while temporary control rooms will be opened wherever required. Preparations are also being reviewed through virtual meetings with district fire officers.
