Mishap In Mahanadi Before Bali Jatra Kicks Off; Odisha Fire Services Team On Alert

Cuttack: Hours before the much-awaited Bali Jatra kicked off in Odisha’s Cuttack district, a youth was feared drowned in the Mahanadi, on the banks of which the fair is being held, on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Irshad (19), who had come from Bihar to trade in toys at the week-long fair. The mishap took place around 10.30 when Mohammad had gone to bathe in the river, sources said.

On being informed, Odisha fire services personnel along with the police team arrived at the spot and started a rescue operation, which is still on.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the circumstances leading to the mishap since bamboo and iron barricades have been erected on the bank and people have been advised against taking a bath in the river.

Notably, the state fire services team has reportedly put in place a comprehensive strategy to deal with any possible emergency situation arising during the historic trade fair. Five rescue teams have been deployed with one power boat and manpower at the Mahanadi riverbank with required life jackets, life boy, and other equipment to guard and respond to any eventuality.

There are 10 fire posts in upper Bali Jatra ground as well as 40 fire posts in lower Bali Jatra ground at various fire-prone points to respond to any fire eventualities and five temporary fire stations have been set up in the area:

• Temporary fire station No.1 to function in front of temple side of (Upper Bali Yatra ground)
• Temporary Fire station No.2 will function near ORMAS (Lower Bali Yatra ground)
• Temporary fire station No.3 will function near Transformer side LB-31 (Lower Bali Yatra ground)
• Temporary fire station No.4 will function near parking area (Lower Baliyatra ground)
• Temporary fire station No.5 will function on the DCP office Gada (Lower Bali Yatra)

Besides, two fire patrolling teams have been deployed (one in each sector) at upper and lower Bali Jatra ground with quick response units and extinguishers. The teams will move around the area from midnight to 6 am on fire protection duty on a daily basis.

Apart from this, two control rooms, one at the upper and lower Bali Jatra ground will be made functional from November 8 to November 15 or till the closure of the Bali Jatra.

There will be around 2,000 stalls on the fairground this year, according to official sources.