FIRE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS SEEKING APPROPRIATE ACTION OF THE MELA AUTHORITY TO MINIMIZE THE FIRE LOAD OF MELA GROUND AND TRANSIT POINTS AT GANGASAGAR MELA-2021

• One cluster of temporary structure / stall shall not exceed 50 feet at a stretch and at least 15 feet fire gap to be maintained between one cluster to another
• No gangway, cross gangway, fire safety gap shall be obstructed by any means.
• All temporary structures erected by cloth, hogla, drama, straw or any other inflammable materials shall be dipped in / treated by Fire retardant solution as it was done in the previous years for the pilgrims shed.
• Electric panel, transformer, generator, rooms shall be constructed by C.I. sheet walling and roofing and shall be installed at such a location where all the sides shall be kept at least 30ft. away from other cluster/ temporary structure.
• Electrical installations including transformers, generators, switch gears, main and meter etc. and the distribution system within the mela complex and transit points shall be made satisfying the code of practice for fire safety as laid down in I.S. specification by a competent govt. license holder electrical contractor.
• Electric wirings shall be concealed with spark proof and FRSL type of wire having proper earthing. ISI marked fittings shall also to be provided.
• Separate M.C.B shall be installed at electric mains of each cluster.
• Adequate nos. of battery operated emergency lights shall be kept ready for use in exigency.
• No naked flame, cooking and burning of fireworks shall be allowed within the Mela Complex.
• Number of community kitchens covered by C.I Sheets near the pilgrim sheds shall be increased and those shall not be occupied by unauthorized Persons for staying purpose.
• Diesel, Petrol, Kerosene, Mobile oils, L.P.G. Cylinder etc. shall not be allowed to store inside any stall other than the specified stall for retail selling of those items. Such type of stalls shall be segregated from other stall keeping a minimum distance of 30 feet as fire safety gap.
• 6 nos. of water tanks under Zone-1 and 5 nos. water tanks under Zone-2 shall be inter connected by underground pipelines of appropriate diameter conforming to IS specification to increase duration of water supply and to get water pressure @ 7 kg / cm2 at existing all hydrant outlets.
• Delivery Hose boxes to be installed near all 165 Nos. hydrant outlets and each box shall contain two nos. of delivery hose of 15 meter length each and one no. branch pipe conforming to I.S. specification.
• Height of all the hydrant outlet pipes shall be at least 4 ft. above from Ground level and shall be marked as ‘FIRE’ with red fluorescent colour. Minimum 6 ft. clear gap to be kept at all the four sides of hydrants and such gap area shall be protected by erecting bamboo barricades.
• Sufficient numbers of water reservoirs having 1.5 lakh its. Capacity each shall be installed covering the entire Mela complex for exclusive use of fire service department for firefighting purpose along with replenishing arrangement at the rate of 1000 lts. / minute.
• At least one no. spout at road Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 each shall be installed at Mela Ground for the purpose of prompt refilling of the water tanks of Fire Tenders in the event of a fire.
• First Aid firefighting arrangements in the style of placing suitable types and adequate nos. of fire extinguishers, fire buckets etc. covering the entire Mela complex shall be installed as per I.S.I Specification from an expert agency with maintenance contract.
• Arrangement shall be made for regular checking; testing and proper maintenance of all fire safety equipment’s installed within the Mela complex and transit points by an expert agency.
• Lightning arrestors shall be installed at suitable locations within the Mela Complex and transit points.
• The services roads and open spaces within the Mela complex shall be sufficiently wide to permit accessibility and maneuverability to the Fire Appliances with turning facility at all sides. Roads shall also be sufficiently strong to withstand the load of Fire Tenders weighing up to 20 M.T.
• Free access to all stalls shall be provided at all times to any authorized inspecting Officer of West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services Department for ascertaining that the Provisions of Fire Safety measure and the conditions thereof have duly followed or not.
• Telephone nos. of all emergency services and departments to be displayed at vantage spots in English, Hindi, Bengali and other regional languages.
• Security staff shall be engaged and to be trained up to operate the fire extinguishers in the event of fire accident. N.G.O’s and volunteers shall also be trained up-to operate the fire extinguishers in exigency in addition to night round duty at the Pilgrims shed for ‘FIRE ALERT’ purpose.
• Round the clock watchmen to be deputed to some important points at road nos. 1.2.3 & 4 as well as in Announcement Towers to keep vigil look on Mela Complex and if any fire accident / dense black smoke / flame is detected, they will at once report the same to nearest Fire Station / Police Station / Mela Control Room / Announcement Tower.
• Announcement on ‘FIRE SAFETY ALERT’ to be made through Public Address System in regular intervals during the Mela days from Announcement Tower in English, Hindi, Bengali and other regional languages.

Kind Attention: A.D.M. (G), South 24-Pgs.

Issuance of Provisional N.O.C. for Temporary structure and Realization of Govt. Revenue from the commercial stall Holders as per existing Government Rules

Permission shall be obtained from Fire Service Department for erection of temporary structure after depositing requisite Govt. fees as per section 23 A of W.B.F.S. Act, 1950 as amended up-to-date Considering the above, Mela Authority is requested to instruct to the commercial stall holders to obtain permission from West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services Dept. Which should be mandatory, as per existing Govt. rules permission will be issued from the temporary mela office of the Gangasagar mela premises from 8th of January onwards which will help to the growth of Govt. revenue as well as Fire Awareness among the people? Like previous, PHE Authority is requested for necessary fooding & lodging arrangements for Officer & Personnel of WBF&ES for the same from 8th of January up-to 10th of January. Hydrant water supply connection line test will be made in the 1st week of January, PHE is requested to made necessary arrangements for the same.

⇨ Shipment of Fire Service Appliances & Vehicles on Priority Basis :

The to & fro journey at Ganga Sagar Mela of Fire Service Appliances, Vehicles, Crew Members &Convoy, should be preferred for transportation on priority basis as fire & emergency service is engage for public utility service. Problem created in return journey after camp fire of Gangasagar Mela. It may please be noted that immediate after announcement for closure of mela i.e. in the evening of 17th of January, water connection, telephone lines, and electrical lines are disconnected for which fire service had to leave the mela ground without loss of time. During return journey on road & ferry transport Fire Service Appliances, Vehicles, Crew Members & Convoy had to stay overnight due to all public & private vehicles are not giving way on roads & ferry ghat which creating troublesome to such emergency department. Considering the emergency point of view, necessary arrangement may please be adopted for quickest shipment for such appliances and vehicles of this emergency department on priority basis subject to the availability of high tide.

Kind Attention: A.D.M. (G)/R.T.O, South 24-Pgs.

⇨ Requisition of Transport

2 nos. Big bus and a Mini Bus are allotted in every year in favour of Fire Service De ptt. For Up & Down journey from Behala F.S. and Hd. Qr. F.S. to Gangasagar Mela Ground and again from Mela Ground To Behala F.S. and Hd. Qr. F.S. (excluding ferry-transport journey). Same arrangement may place be done in this year also. Further, one no. pool car may please be provided by the mela Authority for Director, Dy. Director and Divisional fire Officers’ owing to keep liaison and monitoring of the fire safety measures amongst all the fire station which is quite impossible to carry out without a vehicle.

DISPOSITION OF TEMPORARY FIRE STATIONS AT MELA GROUND AND TRANSIT POINTS

DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS, PERSONNEL AND APPLIANCES

Total Appliances Strength : MP- 5, M.S.W.T.-04, TV- 10, Honda Pump- 10, RPP-1, SC- 2, UV-02, Enfield Bullet- 22,Total strength of Officer & Personnel – D. F. O.- 1, Stn. Off- 09, Sub Off- 10, FEOD- 21, Leader- 23, FO+AFO- 105, S/C/D- 4 & Mechanical Staff- 6.

DETAILS OF SURFACE TYPE WATER TANKS (PUMP FITTED) WITH HYDRANTS AT MELA GROUND AND TRANSIT POINT ARE DETAILED BELOW

• Zone-1 & 2 are required to be interconnected with each other.
• (All the Hydrant line & Out let to be tested by W.B.F &E.S. before 10 days on G.S. Mela in present of PHE.)
• (PHE is requested to made necessary arrangements for the same).

AT TRANSIT POINT

• The water tanks at Zone-1 and Zone-2 shall be interconnected by underground pipelines like previous year.

Telephone connection: Kind Attention: BSNL and Mela Authority

1no. Exch. Telephone with STD facility was provided at all the temporary Fire Station connection is to be provided as previous year.

Transit Point : i) Lot No. 8, ii) Kachuberia, iii) Chemagury, iv)Namkhana & v) Benuban. 01(One) No. exchange telephone with STD facility was provided at all the above temporary F.S. in previous year. Same arrangements may please be done in this year also.

Mele Ground : All the 06 (six) nos. of fire stations at Ganga Sagar Mela Ground were provided 12 (Twelve) Nos. Land Line Telephone with STD facility in previous year. This year also the same arrangement to be done to maintain communication amongst all the temporary fire stations as and when required and in exigency.

There should be separate communication arrangement, i.e., Hot line telephone connection to be installed in between all Fire Station in the mela ground, DM Office and other essential services like PHE / PWD / Haru Electric / Police / Mela Authority for use in exigency.

⇨ Arrangement for interconnection with Temporary Fire Station To be arranged by: Fire Department

Walky Talky & Mobile Phones for internal use in between each fire station. Will be provided by this department.

Power Supply Arrangement at Mela Ground Complex Attention: P.H.E. (Civil & Electric)

1 No. 5 Amp. 3 pin plug and 2 Nos. 5 Amp. 2 pin plug base to be provided in each fire station for charging Mobile Phone, Emergency Light etc. for 24 hours. Alternatively 1 no. Generator of 3 KW capacity at Burrabazar F.S and small generators of 1KW capacity each at other fire stations in Mela Ground complex may please be provided to keep the electronic gadgets in working conditions for 24 hours to facilitate better and upgraded firefighting arrangements.

Requirements at the Accommodation places of Temporary Fire Stations Attention: P.H.E. (Civil)

Total 10 heads including 2 officers will be deployed in each fire station except Burabazar Fire Station. 10 nos. of bed cot (Single) are required in each fire station to be supplied by the mela authority.
Burabazar Fire Station: 26 heads including 4 officers, personnel & mechanical staff will be deployed so 26 nos. of bed cot required to be supplied.
Therefore total 116 nos. of bed cot are required for the fire service in total.

Requisitions for the Office room of Mela Officer, Fire Service Adjacent to Burrabazar Fire Station Attention: P.H.E. (Civil)

One office room measuring about 25’ x 20’ = 500 sq.ft is provided at Burrabazar Fire Station in this year.

Requisition of Office Furniture and electrification Attention: P.H.E. (Civil & Electric)

Office Furniture : 2 no. wooden table, 4 nos. chairs, 1no. wooden bench and 1 no. small steel / wooden Almirah are to be provided in each fire station at Mela ground and transit points.
Electric Arrangements : Adequate nos. of electric bulbs, tube-lights at Office, Bath & Rest Rooms of Officers’ and personnel and at entrance point to be provided in each fire station.
‘FIRE’ caption light shall be installed on the top at least 12 fit from ground for easy visibility by public at the entrance of each fire station at Mela ground and transit points.

Requisition to Provide Swiss Cottage Tents (Executive) for the Officers Attention: P.H.E. (Civil)

This year 13 nos. of S. C. Tents (Executive) may please be provided at the following place to remain proper Status of Officers.

Moreover, adequate space shall be allotted for proper installation of each tent.

Requisition of Rooms for accommodation of Senior Officers of WBF&ES Kind Attention: A.D.M. (G), South 24-Parganas

Remarks: Attention- PHE (Civil).

The installation of fixed fire hydrant system in manual mode was started in the Gangasagar Mela ground since 2002 and the area of coverage extended gradually in the mela ground and transit points of Chemaguri and Kachuberia. The fire hydrants systems were also upgraded to auto/manual system through installation of Jockey pump and other related systems. Last year Zone no.-1 on road no. 1,2,3 & 4 were pressurized but Zone no. 2 and Kachuberia & Chemaguri & Benuban will still manually operated, auto starting facility with pressurization pump are required to be installed. Maneuvering of all the Fire pumps shall be done well in advance before commencement of the Gangasagar Mela.

Sanat Kumar Mondal

Dy. Director (East Zone)

Addl. Charge of Divisional Fire Officer

South 24 Parganas Division

West Bengal Fire & Emergency Services