Varanasi: In view of the large gatherings expected during Chhath festival, comprehensive security and rescue arrangements have been put in place at Ganga ghats, ponds, kunds and other water bodies in Kashi.Teams from the 11th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be deployed at various ghats, kunds and ponds to prevent untoward incidents and provide immediate assistance during the offering of arghya to the setting and rising sun.The teams will be equipped with modern life-saving equipment, including water ambulances, motorboats, life jackets, life buoys, oxygen cylinders and other emergency resources. Trained divers and paramedical staff will also be deployed to carry out rescue operations in case of drowning incidents and provide first aid.Commanding officer of 11th Battalion NDRF, Anup Singh Bisht, said teams would be stationed at Ganga ghats in Varanasi, as well as Surya Sarovar in Banaras Locomotive Works and Ganesh Pokhara in Shivpur. NDRF teams will also be deployed in Chandauli and Gorakhpur districts.Around nine NDRF teams, each comprising 30 trained rescuers, will be deployed. The number may be increased if required. Additional rescue teams and equipment will remain on standby round-the-clock at the battalion headquarters for immediate deployment in nearby areas during emergencies.The fire department has also completed its preparations for Chhath Puja. Fire personnel have been assigned special duty at eight key locations in the city to respond to emergencies and tackle fire-related incidents. Firefighters will be deployed at Laat Bhairav, Markandey Mahadev, Chittaranjan Park, Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Varuna Bridge-Shastri Ghat stretch, Surya Sarovar, Assi Ghat and Shooltankeshwar Mahadev Temple.Bisht said coordination had been established with the district administration and other concerned departments to ensure effective safety arrangements. NDRF teams will remain on full alert throughout the festival to help devotees perform Chhath rituals in a safe environment.
