Bhubaneswar: Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhansu Sarangi on Monday said a state-wide fire safety mock drill will be conducted on Saturday and sought active cooperation from all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
He made the statement while addressing a virtual sensitisation workshop on fire safety awareness and preparedness organised by the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department in collaboration with Odisha Fire Services.
The workshop aimed at strengthening emergency response systems and improving technical preparedness across ULBs in the state.
Sarangi led the technical session and highlighted preventive measures, the use of modern firefighting equipment, and the need for institutional readiness. He said the H&UD Department is the first in the state to organise such a comprehensive initiative on fire safety, setting a benchmark for inter-departmental coordination.
Under the leadership of Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee, the department stressed the need to integrate fire safety into urban governance rather than treating it as a compliance requirement. She directed all ULBs to include fire safety measures under the Mukhya Mantri Sahari Bikas Yojana in the coming financial year.
The virtual meeting saw participation from commissioners of municipal corporations, executive officers of municipalities, and notified area councils, along with fire officers and deputy fire officers.
The discussions focused on strengthening safety standards in view of recent fire incidents, with emphasis on preparedness, prevention, and public awareness.
The department outlined key measures, including continuous sensitisation of officials and citizens, mandatory periodic safety inspections of public and private establishments, and awareness campaigns on fire prevention and emergency response at the grassroots level.
At the outset, Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua outlined the objectives of the meeting and stressed the need for a coordinated, state-wide approach to fire safety preparedness across ULBs.
The workshop concluded with a directive to all ULB heads to immediately initiate safety audits and awareness drives in their respective jurisdictions to reduce risks and prevent future incidents.
