PRESS NOTE

A fire broke out at Forum Mall in Koramangal, Bangalore on Monday evening. The mall was over crowded being a Holiday. All the people in the Mall who were more than 20,000 were evacuated immediately. Public address systems was effectively used to prevent panic stampede and accidents and people were guided towards safety through various exits. Though there was huge crowd in the Mall, no one was injured in the incident. The fire was also contained and controlled quickly by the personnel of Fire and Emergency Services with the assistance of members of security staff of the Mall. There were no casualties nor anybody got injured and the damage to the property was also minimum.

This was made possible because of preventive measures taken by the Directorate of Home Guards, Civil Defence & Fire and Emergency Services, Bangalore through holding mock drills, evacuation drills etc., during fire and other emergencies like terror attacks, disasters etc. The security staff, the crisis management team and other occupants of the Mall were trained about their role during such emergencies. The fire fighting and other security equipment is also tested during such drills and the smooth evacuation of people to safety is also rehearsed.

The department of Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergency Services has already carried out evacuation and mock drills in various public and private buildings like, IT Parks, Malls, Colleges, Schools and other important sensitive buildings.

In the interest of general public and to ensure safety, the Directorate is holding 200 such drills in Bangalore city during January, February and March 2009. Four teams have been formed comprising of officers and experts from Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence to organize these drills. Similar mock drills and evacuation drills are also conducted regularly throughout the State.

Those who are interested may contact the Office of the Director General of Police, Commandant General, Home Guards, Director, Civil Defence and Director General, Fire and Emergency Services, No.1, Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, Bangalore-56- 042.

Telephone Nos.:
1) The Deputy Commandant General, - 25573553
Home Guards and Deputy Director,
Civil Defence, Bangalore.

2) The Deputy Director (Tech), - 22971509
Karnataka Fire & Emergency
Services, Bangalore.

3) The Deputy Director (Admn), - 22971504
Karnataka Fire & Emergency
Services, Bangalore.

4) The Commandant, - 22971515
R.A.Mundkur Fire & Emergency
Services Academy, Bangalore.