Nagpur deploys 9 boats, disaster teams for Ganesh idol immersion
Ahead of Anant Chaturdashi immersions, Nagpur fire and emergency services have posted boats, trained teams and retired Navy personnel at key sites.
Ganesh idols will be immersed across Nagpur city on Anant Chaturdashi. Ahead of this, the Nagpur Fire and Emergency Services department has stepped up disaster management preparations. Teams from the fire department, disaster management officials and staff, and NGOs will be posted at the city's major immersion sites. Retired Navy personnel will also be roped in to handle any emergency.
Four large artificial immersion ponds have been built in the city for the purpose, at Gorewada, Koradi, Police Line Takli and Kachi Visa ground. Besides these, security arrangements will also be in place for immersions at major natural water bodies such as the Kilakila (fort) Koradi river ghat and Sonegaon lake.
As part of disaster management, a total of 9 boats will be deployed at the city's major immersion sites, including 3 boats at Gorewada and 2 at Koradi. The remaining boats will be made available at other immersion sites as needed. Specially trained teams will be posted to launch immediate rescue operations in case of any emergency during the immersions. Each immersion site will have a team of 13 personnel during the day and 15 personnel at night. Fire department and disaster management teams will work together with NGOs. Additionally, retired Navy personnel will be deployed at Gorewada and Koradi. Rescue teams will be equipped with power boats, outboard motors, ropes, life jackets, lifebuoys, PA systems, torches, emergency lights and tents.
The department has directed that fire vehicles and the wireless system at the control room be kept in working order ahead of the immersion programme. The chief control officer of the rescue teams will hold a meeting with the concerned control officers and group heads a day before the immersion to review preparations. If needed, immersion sites will be inspected at this meeting and arrangements changed. Officials and staff deployed during the Ganesh immersion have been directed not to remain absent without solid reason. A warning has also been issued that violation of this order will invite disciplinary action as per rules.
Disaster management officer of the fire department, Dilip Chauhan, said the department's teams will remain fully prepared to deal with any emergency during the Ganesh immersion, and special watch will be kept on sensitive immersion sites in the city.
