Dussehra 2026 / Fire Dept Conducts Mock Drills at Puja Pandals Amid Dussehra Rush in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: With thousands of devotees thronging Durga Puja pandals across the capital during the festive season, the Odisha Fire Services Department has intensified preparedness measures by conducting mock drills at major puja venues to ensure public safety and emergency readiness, officials said on Saturday.

As crowds continue to swell for Durga Puja celebrations, the department is focusing on preventing fire-related incidents and strengthening response mechanisms in the event of an emergency. The mock drills are aimed at training personnel, puja committees and volunteers on effective fire management, evacuation procedures and crowd control measures.

Officials said the exercises are being carried out at various puja mandaps across Bhubaneswar following consultations with local puja committees. The drills simulate fire outbreak scenarios to assess how swiftly emergency teams can respond, contain the blaze and safely evacuate people from crowded locations.

A key focus of the exercise is educating organisers and volunteers on immediate response protocols. Demonstrations include the use of firefighting equipment, safe evacuation routes, emergency communication systems and methods to guide devotees to secure locations without triggering panic.

The department is also training personnel on crowd management strategies, which are critical during peak festival hours when pandals witness a heavy influx of visitors. Emergency responders are being briefed on coordinated rescue operations to minimise risks and ensure a prompt response in case of any untoward incident.
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To strengthen preparedness, dedicated teams have been deployed to monitor sensitive locations and remain on standby throughout the festive period. Fire officials are also urging organisers to adhere to safety norms, maintain unobstructed exit points and ensure the availability of basic firefighting equipment at pandals.

The initiative comes as part of broader efforts by the Fire and Emergency Services Department to enhance disaster preparedness during one of Odisha's largest annual festivals. Authorities have reiterated that the safety of devotees remains the top priority and that all necessary precautions are being taken to ensure a smooth and incident-free celebration.