As the release of water from Mettur Reservoir into the Cauvery has been stepped up, the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS), Tiruchi Division, is geared up to respond swiftly to emergency situations.
Station Fire Officers (SFO) of the fire stations at Tiruchi, Srirangam, Lalgudi, Pullambadi and Navalpattu have been asked to be in a state of readiness in the event of any alert seeking assistance to rescue people washed away in the swift-flowing river.
A written communication has been circulated to the SFOs of the four stations to keep equipment ready for emergency missions. Firefighters have also been asked to visit villages and schools situated close to the river to urge locals to desist from entering the water for bathing or fishing.
Fire Prevention Wing personnel at Tiruchi have also been asked to carry out awareness campaigns in rural pockets, a senior TNFRS official said.
A rubber boat is on standby in Tiruchi and in Srirangam fire stations to carry out rescue missions.
On seeing the copious flow of water in the Cauvery, which was dry until recently, people may become excited and venture into the waters to take bath. This is risky since it is difficult to judge the depth and the flow at the moment, said the officer.
Firefighters will highlight the message relating to the risk that public and students can encounter if they venture into the Cauvery given the increased flow from Mettur dam. The exercise has begun with a team of firefighters carrying out an awareness programme at Kambarasampettai in Tiruchi, the officer said.
Mukkombu closed
In the wake of increased release of water, officials have kept Mukkombu — a picnic spot near Tiruchi from where the Coleroon branches out from the Cauvery — out of bounds.
Visitors will not be allowed inside Mukkombu where police personnel are doing the rounds as a precautionary measure, said a police officer.
Police personnel have also been deployed at Kambarasampettai check dam on the city’s outskirts to prevent public from entering the water, the officer added.
Caution boards have been kept at Grand Anicut, another picnic spot, a few km away from Tiruchi, appealing to the public to desist from entering the water for bathing and swimming.