Goa CM fetes UP fire department for Kumbh services

Lucknow: The UP fire department was on Tuesday honoured in Goa for exceptional efforts in ensuring fire safety and disaster management during Maha Kumbh.During the 45-day-long religious congregation, not a single casualty due to fire incidents took place — an achievement that has been widely appreciated, officials said.Goa CM Pramod Sawant honoured UP fire department officials and praised their efforts for incident-free Maha Kumbh. Those felicitated included ADG fire services Padmaja Chauhan, deputy director (Fire services-Maha Kumbh) Aman Sharma, nodal officer (Maha Kumbh) Pramod Sharma and chief fire officer (Prayagraj commissionerate) Rajeev Pandey. Given the scale of the event, fire safety posed a major challenge where more than 66 crore pilgrims took the bath at Sangam. The UP fire department, equipped with advanced firefighting tools and quick response mechanisms, successfully managed fire incidents without any loss of life, officials said.The department handled 185 fire-related incidents, including 24 major outbreaks, preventing potential damage estimated at over Rs 16.5 crore. Additionally, around 86 minor fire incidents were swiftly controlled. Pramod Sharma, who served as the nodal officer for fire services during Maha Kumbh, shared that the directorate of fire and emergency services, Goa, organised the award ceremony.