Srinagar: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have issued an advisory urging the public to take precautionary measures to prevent fire incidents during the winter season. With the region experiencing dry weather and a rise in fire-related accidents, residents are advised to remain vigilant and adopt safe practices in their homes and workplaces.
The advisory highlights the importance of ensuring that all electrical heating devices, stoves, Bukharies, and LPG cooking stoves are turned off and unplugged before going to bed or leaving the premises.
This measure is particularly crucial to reduce the risk of accidental fires. Additionally, the traditional Kangris (firepots), often used for warmth, should be handled with care. Authorities recommend keeping Kangris in secure locations at night to avoid accidental toppling, which could lead to fires.
To minimize hazards, residents are urged to avoid storing combustible materials such as dry grass or wood within residential areas. Instead, these items should be kept in isolated locations, away from living spaces. Similarly, the use of faulty or substandard electrical appliances, including high-wattage room heaters and defective electric blankets, should be avoided. These items are known to cause short circuits, which are a common cause of fires during winter.
The advisory also emphasizes the importance of proper electrical safety practices. Households are encouraged to use high-quality fuses of appropriate ratings, as well as miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and earth leakage circuit breakers, to prevent electrical faults. Care should be taken to keep electrical wires away from hot or wet surfaces, which can compromise safety.
In kitchens, safety remains paramount. People are advised to stay present while cooking and to turn off stoves if they need to step away, even briefly. After cooking, LPG cylinders and stove knobs should be turned off, and proper ventilation should be ensured when using LPG heaters.
To prepare for emergencies, all escape routes and access points to water sources should be kept clear, particularly in residential and market areas. Careless disposal of live cigarette butts is strongly discouraged, as such actions can ignite fires, especially in dry conditions. In the event of a fire, residents are urged to contact emergency services without delay. The Fire and Emergency Services Department can be reached via the toll-free number 101. Alternatively, citizens can call the control rooms in Srinagar (0194-2452155, 2452222) or Jammu (0191-2457705, 2435283). [KNT]
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