Srinagar: In the face of a rise in fire incidents with the onset of winter, the district administration of Srinagar has issued a fire safety advisory urging locals to follow precautionary measures to prevent such mishaps during the cold season.
The advisory, issued by the Office of the District Magistrate Srinagar, calls upon the public to remain vigilant and adopt safe practices while using heating devices, kangris, and electrical appliances. The administration emphasized that the dry weather coupled with increased use of heating gadgets significantly heightens the risk of fires in residential as well as commercial areas.
According to the advisory, people have been asked to ensure that all electrical heating gadgets, bukharis, and LPG stoves are switched off before going to bed or leaving their homes. The use of kangris should be handled with utmost care and kept in safe places during nights to avoid toppling.
Locals have also been advised to avoid storing combustible materials such as dry grass or rejection wood near residential areas, refrain from using faulty or substandard electrical appliances, and to ensure proper wiring and installation of circuit breakers.
The advisory further stresses maintaining good ventilation while using LPG heaters, keeping escape routes and water access points clear, and avoiding careless disposal of live cigarette butts.
In an effort to spread awareness, the administration has urged that the fire safety guidelines be widely publicized through print and electronic media in both English and Urdu. It has also requested the printing of posters and pamphlets to be distributed at public places for community awareness.
In case of any fire emergency, the public has been advised to contact the Fire and Emergency Services through toll-free number 101 or Srinagar Control Room at 0194-2452155, 2452222, or the nearest fire station.
The advisory concludes with a reminder: “Fire is a good servant but a bad master,” a caution that while fire serves useful purposes, negligence can lead to devastating consequences.
