Govt sounds fire alert, orders round-the-clock preparedness
Amid a surge in fire incidents across the state during the ongoing summer and harvesting season, the Haryana Government has directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to scale up fire safety preparedness and response mechanisms in their districts.
A formal communiqué from the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management was issued to all DCs on Sunday, underlining the urgent need to enhance fire response infrastructure and ensure all systems remain in a state of operational readiness.
According to sources, the DCs have been asked to ensure that all fire tenders, equipment, and firefighting systems are fully functional and available round-the-clock. Emphasis has been laid on maintaining adequate numbers of trained firefighting personnel at all times, including night shifts and holidays. Duty rosters must be clearly defined to avoid lapses in emergency response, officials said.
To monitor the implementation of these directives, the DCs have been instructed to review fire safety arrangements periodically and submit a detailed weekly report to the state authorities every Friday, continuing until the end of the harvesting season.
“A number of fire cases have been reported recently from various parts of the state, largely due to soaring temperatures and the widespread presence of dry crop residue in agricultural fields. With meteorological forecasts predicting a further rise in mercury levels, the risk of fire outbreaks remains high, prompting immediate administrative intervention. Hence, the DCs have been asked to remain in alert mode,” an official said.
The government has also underscored the need for interdepartmental coordination to ensure a swift and systematic response in case of fire incidents. Effective cooperation has been sought between fire services, police, agriculture department, disaster management teams, and the district administrations.
“The DCs have been directed to establish regular monitoring mechanisms at both the village and block levels to enable early detection and prompt reporting of fire outbreaks,” the official added.
Apart from operational preparedness, the communiqué stresses the importance of public awareness and outreach. The DCs have been instructed to organise awareness campaigns targeting rural and farming communities, to educate them on fire safety measures during the harvest period. Authorities believe such campaigns will play a key role in preventing avoidable incidents.
The communiqué clearly mentions that the directives are to be treated as top priority and implemented without delay. Action-taken reports are to be submitted regularly to ensure accountability.
Rohtak DC Dhirendra Khadgata confirmed receiving the directions issued by the state authorities.
Haryana Tribune