Patna: The Patna Fire Department has stepped up preparations for Durga Puja and Dussehra 2026, with fire mapping of major puja pandals scheduled to begin from Monday.
The exercise is expected to continue for about a week and will assess fire-safety arrangements at pandals across the district. Officials will examine the location of each pandal and its preparedness for emergencies.
District Fire Officer Abhishek Kumar said all puja committees will have to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Fire Department headquarters.
Fire Certificate Required For Larger Pandals
According to the department, puja pandals covering more than 300 square metres will require a fire safety certificate.
Organisers will also have to obtain the necessary certificate from the electricity department before the festivities.
The fire department will check whether the required safety arrangements are in place and whether the pandal layout allows emergency services to respond quickly.
Volunteers To Be Trained For Emergencies
This year, puja committees will also be required to deploy trained volunteers at pandals.
The Fire Department will provide training to these volunteers so they can assist visitors during a fire or other emergency and support initial rescue efforts until professional emergency services arrive.
For pandals covering 5,000 square feet, committees will also have to submit a declaration under Form ‘D’, according to officials.
Entry, Exit Routes And Fire Engine Access Under Check
During the fire-mapping exercise, department teams will record the location of pandals along with their entry and exit routes, access roads for fire engines and surrounding conditions.
The exercise is intended to identify possible obstacles in advance and help ensure that fire tenders can reach pandals quickly during an emergency.
Officials said temporary control rooms may also be established in sensitive or heavily crowded areas, depending on the situation.
Additional Fire Tenders May Be Deployed
The department said fire tenders from other districts could be brought to Patna if additional resources are required during the festival period.
Fire officials have asked puja committees to strictly follow the prescribed safety standards while constructing and operating pandals.
The department’s preparations come ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra celebrations, when large crowds are expected at pandals and other public gathering points across Patna.
