Fire safety takes centre-stage at Lokotsav

PANAJI
Besides a wide array of art, craft and cultural items being showcased at the Lokotsav 2018, visitors at the festival would find it hard to ignore several fire-fighting aids also on display at the festival.
Taking serious cognizance of major fire tragedies recently in Mumbai and Bangalore, the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services has, for the first time, initiated various measures to curb fire mishaps at the ‘Lokotsav' at Panaji on Friday.
Acting on directions of fire officials, organizers have painted the stage with fire-retardant liquid and have specially designed the stage to avoid fire mishaps during the programmes.
"This fire-retardant liquid is being used for the first time at the Lokotsav. Cooking food with LPG cylinders inside the stalls has been prohibited. We have made arrangements for food stall staff to cook their food in an open place at the Bandodkar football ground, with a fire personnel who will be posted there," Fire Officer (Headquarters) Shrikrishna Parrikar told The Goan.
"Fire teams and equipment have also been placed at strategic locations at the festival.
A team of 14 firefighters and an officer will be monitoring the Lokotsav round the clock to avoid untoward incidents." "Two Quick Response Vehicles (QRV) and a Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) have also been stationed at the site. Besides, 45 fire extinguishers have been placed at various places and six fire extinguishing points have also been set up," Parrikar added.
Despite all these measures, fire officials have also planned special exit points in the eventuality of a fire.
"Seven main exit points and 10 exit points between stalls have been set up to allow people to vacate immediately during an emergency. Two places have been also marked for people to assemble during an emergency," Parrikar said.