Odisha CM Felicitates Fire Personnel Back From Rescue Work In Kerala

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday felicitated fire service personnel, who were engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Kerala.

During a special function at the State Secretariat here, Naveen also announced an annual grant Rs 25 lakh to the Fire Services Welfare Fund in recognition of exceptional public service rendered by fire personnel.

Director General of Fire Service & Commandant General, Home Guards & Director Civil Defence, B K Sharma was present on the occasion. He took to the Twitter expressing his gratitude to the Chief Minister for acknowledging the efforts put in by the fire personnel and the annual grant of Rs 25 lakh.

The team was earlier felicitated at the Bhubaneswar airport on its return from Kerala on Thursday.

On the request of the Centre, Odisha had sent a team of 245 fire personnel, including crew members and support and supervising staff, to Kerala for the rescue work.

The team headed by Chief Fire Officer Sukant Sethi carried with it 75 power boats, underwater equipment, 10 tower lights, power saws, solar search lights, three tents, 137 life bodies, 31 lifelines, 30 sleeping mats, two aggronites, six tent covers and two compressors. It was flown to Kerala in a special flight IL-76.

The fire personnel reached Kerala on August 18 and were engaged in rescue and relief operations in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of the southern Indian state.