The GHMC’s Fire Prevention Wing (FPW) has advised schools functioning under its jurisdiction to conduct fire drills once every three months to familiarise and train students to face emergencies.
Additional Director C. Lakshmi Prasad said another 60 days is being given to school managements to provide minimum safety measures like fire extinguishers, hose reel, overhead tank exclusively for fire fighting, booster pump, fire alarm, emergency lighting and public address systems.
A ‘no objection certificate’ too should be taken from the municipal corporation or action would be initiated on the schools as per provisions of the A.P. Services Act & Building bylaws, he said. Mr. Prasad and his colleagues conducted fire drills in five schools in different parts of the city - Don Bosco School, Erragada; St. Andrews School, West Marredpally; Goutham Model School, Aghapura; Sanghamitra School, Kukatpally and S.R. Digi School, Nagole.
Kumbakonam tragedy
The drill was taken up as part of observance of eighth anniversary of Kumbakonam school fire tragedy in Tamil Nadu on the same day in 2004 where 94 school children lost their lives apart from 30 children getting burns. The evacuation drill was followed by a demonstration of fire fighting and rescue as well as a lecture by fire officials, including D.R.B. Raju and B.J.E. Prasanna Kumar.
Children were taught about getting out of the school buildings using the staircase during a fire or any other emergency, escaping from smoke by lying low, tying a wet cloth on the nose, crawling on the ground on the knees and elbows to reach the exit. Survival techniques when held up in a room by using wet cloth under the door, etc were also demonstrated. Other issues like first aid in case of burns and do’s and don’ts in case of fire were also told.
Earlier, GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu released a booklet on procedure for conducting fire drills in schools. It will also be hosted on the ghmc.gov.in website for the benefit of schools.
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