Odisha to set up 45 fire stations: Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, April 19: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday, April 19 announced setting up of 45 more fire stations which will take the number to 335 in the state.

"Once these are set up, Odisha will have the highest number of fire stations in the country," he said while addressing a programme on the 61st National Fire Service Week at Odisha Fire and Disaster Response Academy here.

Patnaik said there must be adequate protection and safety measures in high-rise apartments which are being built in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and other cities.

Regular inspection and effective coordination between development authorities and Fire Service Department would help prevent fire, the Chief Minister said and assured fire personnel that the government is committed to provide them the best equipment.

Hailing the department, he said fire service personnel were among the first to commence rescue operation after a bus plunged 300 feet down a ghat in Deogarh district two days back in which at least 25 persons were killed.

The Chief Minister also dedicated to the people three institutes - the Odisha Fire and Disaster Response Academy in Bhubaneswar, the Fire Training Institute in Cuttack and Watermanship Institute in Puri.

PTI