Patna’s fire department has recommended action against 46 Durga Puja pandals after inspections found inadequate fire-safety arrangements ahead of the festival, prompting authorities to seek intervention from the concerned sub-divisional magistrates and place the identified venues under close watch.
Fire officials inspected 1,310 puja pandals across the city as part of preparations to prevent fire incidents during Durga Puja. Notices were issued to 80 pandals considered vulnerable, of which 46 were specifically found lacking the required fire-safety measures, according to the department.
The inspections have been followed by a city-wide emergency deployment intended to reduce response times around crowded festival venues. Fire brigade vehicles and personnel have been stationed at 61 locations across Patna, providing teams with closer access to pandals and other high-footfall areas.
The department has also established at least 30 temporary fire control rooms at different locations. The main fire control room has been operating round the clock since October 17, with officers and firefighters deployed in shifts to mobilise teams when incidents are reported from pandals or crowded areas.
The action comes as large gatherings are expected at puja venues across the city. Fire-safety arrangements at temporary structures are particularly important during festival periods because pandals draw dense crowds and require emergency services to work in areas where access can be constrained by people, vehicles and surrounding structures. The department’s inspection drive is intended to identify vulnerabilities before the celebrations intensify.
Police and other emergency agencies have also been deployed at crowded locations. CCTV cameras and drones are being used to monitor puja venues and other high-footfall areas, while around 2,000 police personnel and officers have been assigned across Patna for law-and-order and security duties during the festivities.
The fire department has written to the concerned SDMs seeking action against the 46 pandals identified with fire-safety deficiencies. These venues are expected to remain under close watch during the celebrations, alongside the temporary control rooms and fire-service deployments positioned across the city.
