The Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service (DFS), hospitals and all the other arms of the Government have been put on alert to handle any emergency during Diwali (festival of lights).
Police Control Room (PCR) vans, Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) have been deployed on the roads and patrolling has been intensified across the city, following a terror alert issued by the Central security agencies.
Members of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMFs), too, have been deployed in key markets and localities of the Capital. A large contingent of woman constables and officers could be seen patrolling the busy market places in the city.
"Additional security measures have been taken to ward off any untoward happening in the city. Watch towers have been erected at strategic locations to keep an eye on suspicious movements. We have deployed snipers and Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) in sensitive areas of the city. All district police chiefs are in touch with the other arms of the Government to ensure safety and security of the people," a senior Delhi Police official said.
According to an official of the DFS, fire engines and the staff are being kept ready to respond to fire calls. “Delhi has been registering around 600 such calls during the celebrations. Our effort is to minimise the loss and provide relief to affected people, the official added.
Similarly, the Delhi Government has instructed all its hospitals to immediately provide medical care to patients with burn injuries during celebrations.
The hospitals have been asked to keep a few beds reserved for such cases apart from posting specialists for the critical care. The Health Department has also instructed the hospitals to keep stock of the required medicines and other material necessary for instant healing and stitching etc. The hospitals have been asked to deploy para-medical staff to meet with any number of cases.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is meant for feasting, bursting crackers and enjoying with the family, but doctors warn that patients suffering from lung and heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes need to exercise caution as their condition might worsen.
Doctors have advised to avoid highly saturated food like sweets as that could increase cardiac problems and aggravate health issues in people with hypertension and diabetes.