District Collector G. Priyanka directed Kerala Water Board officials to expedite steps to install fire hydrants at all strategic locations.
As a first step, officials have been told to start the process of installing the system at Broadway in the city and Aluva, the places where the fire broke out on Tuesday, causing huge financial losses and posing a threat to public safety.
A fire hydrant, a fitting in a public area with an attachment that can be used to attach a fire hose to a water supply line, is considered a key firefighting device.
The Collector gave the instructions in a meeting she convened along with district panchayat president KG Radhakrishnan on Wednesday to discuss immediate steps to be taken to prevent fires in the district in the near future.
At the meeting, the district management decided to create a monitoring committee as part of measures to prevent possible fires.
The committee, headed by the Sub Collector, will include the Secretary of Kochi Corporation, Risk Analyst and officials of the Fire and Rescue Service, Kerala State Electricity Board and other related departments. The committee must visit markets and other fire-prone areas in the city and take necessary preventive measures, an official release said.
All local bodies in the district have been directed to form monitoring committees and conduct a fire audit targeting schools, hospitals, markets and scrapyards by January 15. Local authorities must also compile a list of available vehicles, including excavators, to deal with emergency situations.
Sub-Collector Grandhe Sai Krishna, Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) K. Manoj and officials of various departments attended the meeting.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 21:29 IST
