Chennai: While the Deepavali vibes are already here. The State Fire and Rescue Services officials are pulling up the sock to prevent mishap. This year, however, the fire accidents would be minimum due to the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board order. According to the notification, residents are allowed to burst crackers between 6 am and 7 am and 7 pm and 8 pm. Firemen in the city welcome the decision as it would reduce the accidents.
“Around 21 vehicles have reached the city from neighbouring districts. One vehicle each will be stationed at Medavakkam, Kathipara Junction and Sholinganllur,” said South Chennai District Fire Officer Syed Mohammed Shah.
Besides the arrangement, the department has alerted Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewage Board for meeting the water needs.
Explaining about granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to firecracker sellers, he says, “Around 600 shops in South Chennai have been given licence to set-up stalls.”
The NOC have been given based on rules and regulations and a few among them are: the establishment should not be in the vicinity of shopping malls, wedding halls, hutments, petrol, densely-populated areas and on main roads. The outlet should mandatorily have two fire extinguishers, two water drums and a board emphasising prohibition of smoking and ‘Do’s and Don’t’s’ norms must be placed.
“If the fire affects the body parts, they should follow the principle of ‘stop, drop and roll.’ The person should stop doing the activity, drop the cracker on the floor and immediately roll over to avoid the spread of fire,” Syed suggests.
Emergency contact numbers: 101 or 100 or 108.