NMC requests 26 civic bodies to pitch in with staff & fire tenders for Kumbh

Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has requested the 26 municipal corporations across Maharashtra to deploy their fire brigade personnel and fire tenders in Nashik city for a two month period — between Aug and Sept 2027 — when three major amrit snans (holy baths) are scheduled for the Kumbh Mela.The civic administration said the additional manpower and equipment are essential to ensure safety during the rush of devotees.The request is part of NMC's broader safety and disaster-management preparations for the Kumbh Mela. Nashik is one of the four cities in India where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years. While the 2015 Kumbh Mela drew nearly 2.5 crore visitors, the civic body has projected that over 5 crore devotees are expected to arrive for the 2027 event.With three major snan dates falling in Aug and Sept, the civic administration anticipates unprecedented crowd pressure.An NMC official, while talking to TOI, said the huge influx of devotees requires expanded fire safety arrangements. "The additional force sought from other municipal corporations is to be deployed only for the two peak months," the official said."We want to avoid any untoward incident, especially considering the dense crowd and temporary settlements that will be set up during the religious gathering. The administration has already communicated to all the municipal corporations to send part of their fire brigade staff and tenders for temporary deployment in Nashik," the official added.Besides seeking support from other cities, the NMC is strengthening its own fire brigade. The civic body is in the process of appointing 184 new personnel, including 150 firemen and drivers.Procurement plans include 15 fire tenders with 6,000-litre capacity each, three smaller tenders, five Rapid Intervention Vehicles, one specialised rescue vehicle, a water browser, a 60-metre water tower and 13 fire bikes.The civic body also plans to acquire a firefighting robot to handle operations in areas that may be unsafe or inaccessible for human entry. Training programmes for the fire brigade have also been planned to ensure smooth handling of the advanced equipment. Simhastha Kumbh Mela's flag-hoisting ceremony will take place on Oct 31 this year, marking the formal start of the preparations.