The Hindu 13.11.2009
Disaster management plan in place at Talakad
Staff Correspondent
| Panchalinga Darshan will start on November 16 |
Personnel have been drawn from Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore and Davangere districts
Team comprises six fire station officers, five assistant fire station officers and 80 firemen
— Photo: M.A. Sriram 
Ready to tackle emergency: Fire service personnel deployed for Panchalinga Darshan driving to Talakad from Mysore on Thursday.
Mysore: The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is all geared up to handle emergency, if any, during the Panchalinga Darshan which will begin on November 16 at Talakad in Mysore district.
Fire service personnel drawn from Mysore and three other districts have been deployed at Talakad for the benefit of pilgrims.
Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan flagged off 14 fire tenders and a rescue van from Mysore on Thursday.
Team
The fire fighting personnel will be led by Chief Fire Officer K.U. Ramesh.
Regional Fire Officer D. Gurulingaiah will oversee the preparedness at Talakad during the festival.
The team comprises six fire station officers, five assistant fire station officers and 80 firemen, who have been drawn from Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore and Davangere district fire services. The team will be stationed at Talakad, located on the banks of Cauvery.
The fire service personnel will be divided into eight teams.
While five will keep guard at the temple and its surroundings, two teams will be deployed at the bathing ghats on the bank of the river. And, one team will be reserved for providing security to VIPs who will visit Talakad during the Panchalinga Darshan.
The ultra-modern rescue van, equipped with devices necessary to swiftly attend to disasters such as floods, building collapse, boat tragedies and train and road accidents, has been pressed into service for the festival. A source in the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said that they will be able to effectively handle any emergency using the facilities made available.
A disaster management plan has been put in place at Talakad and boats and life jackets had been kept ready. Specialist divers will also be deployed during the event.
