Bhubaneswar: The State Fire Services, with its strong 2,000 personnel and a good number of officers, is all set to face Cyclone ‘Fani’, which is likely to make landfall at Puri Town between 9.30 am till 2 pm on Friday.
While leave applications of all Fire Services personnel have been cancelled, employees from the districts, which are unlikely to be affected by the cyclonic storm, have been called to serve the vulnerable districts. In addition, Civil Defence personnel have also been attached to fire stations for rendering assistance. Senior Fire Services officers have been deputed to each district to supervise operations, informed an official release.
Fire Service DG and Commandant General Home Guards and Civil Defence Director BK Sharma is closely monitoring the operation.
It is learnt that equipments have been kept in readiness to take up road clearing work. Power cutters, Aska lights, combi-tools etc have been kept in perfect working condition. Vehicles with sufficient fuel are also in readiness in all fire stations.
In order to meet likely flood including inundation of low lying and urban areas, powerboats, under water BA sets, lifebuoys etc. have been kept ready for rescue of marooned people.
A 24-hour control room is functioning at Fire headquarters to monitor the rescue operations.
