Barring a few stray incidents of small fires, Diwali, the festival of lights, passed off peacefully in the State. Apprehending fire mishaps during the festivities, the fire officials remained on their toes throughout Thursday.
Though no major accident was reported from anywhere fire broke out at 14 places in Dehradun, including the old bus terminus near the railway station. Fire was reported from a house on Tilak Road. Cars were charred at Pragati Vihar and Panditwari. Houses at Chukkhuwala in Raipur, at Maggi point on Balbeer Road and on Khurbura Road were damaged after they caught fire.
Dehradun chief fire officer Shiv Prasad Mamgai said 14 calls related to fire incidents were reported in the city during the festivities. "At most of the places, fire erupted due to negligence of the people who were busting firecrackers. The first incident was reported at 11.23 pm from a furniture shop on Akhara Chowk. It was tough time for us as there was only one way to go to terrace which was closed. The road was narrow and it was made still narrower as cars were found parked along it. later, six fire tenders were sent to douse the blaze. It took nearly four and half hours to put out the fire. Had we been a bit late the flame would have engulfed the locality. Gas cylinders were removed from the site of the fire and a child who was stranded on the terrace was evacuated to safety," he said.
He further said they were prompt in reaching the places from where the fire incidents were reported. "I myself also reached the furniture shop as the fire apparently caused by a firecracker (rocket) was intense," he added.
He said the plan they had drafted to deploy fire tenders across the district yielded good result. " As far as Dehradun city is concerned fire tenders were deployed at eight locations - Premnagar, Sahastradhara crossing, Clock Tower, Saharanpur, Dharampur, Shimla bypass, Kotwali, Premnagar and Dilaram Chowk. Besides, two bike-borne fire- fighters made rounds the city. We are indeed relieved that the festival has passed off, sans any major incident and casualty," he added.