Bihar advises no pujas, cooking between 9 am and 6 pm to prevent fires from breaking out
There has been a rise in the number of fire accidents in the state, which is being attributed to the ongoing heatwave across the country.
The Bihar government has ordered officials to issue an advisory to people asking them not to light fires for cooking between 9 am and 6 pm every day, and to conduct any pujas or havans before 9 am. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked the state’s Principal Secretary, Disaster Management to issue the advisory, PTI reported. Kumar also asked for a proposal on buying more fire equipment, and announced compensation for families of victims who died in recent fires.
The move comes after several fires have broken out in the state, especially during the prevailing heatwave. Fires in Bihar have killed 66 people and around 1,200 animals in the last two weeks alone, NDTV reported. Water levels in the state have also reduced considerably, making it harder to douse flames. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday also advised curtailing the use of fire to avoid accidents.
