Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Fire Services welcomed 911 new ‘Agni Yoddha’ into its ranks today following their passing out parade at the Barmunda Fire Training Center.
Speaking at the 61st Agni Yoddha Passing Out Parade ceremony, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi hailed them as the Government’s “first responders” and “the face of the government to the people in danger.”
Odisha Fire and Emergency Services Director General, Shri Sudhanshu Sarangi welcomed the distinguished Chief Guest, and other Honourable Guests in the impressive ceremony.
During his address, the Chief Minister Shri Majhi announced that the state has filled 911 vacant posts in the Department of Fire and Emergency Services over the past year and plans to fill an additional 300 vacant posts by December. He stressed the importance of physical fitness for firefighters and encouraged them to continuously upgrade their skills to adapt to a changing environment.
Chief Minister Shri Majhi also highlighted the Odisha Fire and Emergency Service’s impressive performance, noting that it has been ranked among the top three states in the country.
He shared statistics from the past year, where 346 fire stations in the state responded to approximately 50,000 calls, saving 7,599 lives and rescuing 17,000 people.
To further enhance the department’s capabilities, the government is making significant investments:
- A world-class simulator costing ₹10 crore will be established to provide modern training to Agni Yoddhas for dealing with difficult situations.
- A national-level water efficiency and life-saving training center will be made functional at Ramchandi, Konark, at a cost of ₹12 crore.
- A world-class scuba diving training center, with a budget of ₹10 crore, will also be set up at the same location to train police, fire, and sanitation personnel.
The Chief Minister urged the department to launch a statewide awareness campaign on water safety, including swimming education for students, to prevent drowning incidents. He also suggested that every fire engine should be equipped with first-aid kits and modern stretchers to save lives during the golden hour.
On the invitation of DGP Fire & Emergency Services, Shri Sarangi, DGP Y B Khurania, Former DGPs, Shri Man Mohan Praharaj, Shri Bijaya Kumar Sharma, Shri Bipin Bihari Mishra, Shri Sanjeev Marik, State Information Commissioner, Shri Pranbindu Achrya and other veteran top cops graced the occasion.
In a symbolic gesture, Chief Minister Shri Majhi dedicated a theme song titled “Agni Yoddha” and planted a tree at the event. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Shri Suresh Pujari, Advisor to CM, Shri Prakash Mishra, Digapahandi MLA, Siddhant Mahapatra, Ekamra Bhubaneswar MLA Shri Babu Singh, Pipili MLA Ashrit Patnaik and other dignitaries.