Open House: What steps should Chandigarh Administration take to ensure public safety at recreational events?

Tick all safety boxes before clearance

The recurring accidents at recreational events and fairs have left us with too many painful memories. It shows that the administration and other authorities concerned have failed in their duty of ensuring public safety. Every permission document for such events and fairs should have a safety check list which should be cleared by subject matter experts. This will bring sense of responsibility towards public safety. The people too have to be alert and ensure their own safety.

Vijay Shukla, Chandigarh

Plan events to every last detail

To ensure public safety, fair and carnival venues should be organised with better planning. From the set-up to placement of rides, entry and exit points, every detail needs to looked at keenly. The administration must lay down comprehensive regulatory "Dos & Don't's" for the events, particularly regarding the use of joyrides. Firefighting arrangements, ambulance service and adequate security staff are also a must.

SS Arora, Mohali

Ban proprietors found at fault

The authorities before giving permission for joyrides should ensure proper checks. There needs to be a proper inspection by designated officials, who should thoroughly look through the rides being set up and impose a hefty fine and permanently ban proprietors in case of discrepancies. The authorities should also avoid risky swings in the city and promote permanent safer alternatives. After the latest incident at the Rose Festival, action was taken against the defaulter but that too is case of too little too late.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Hire experts for inspections

The administration should hire trained security personnel and use technology to ensure a safe environment. The trained personnel can be used to not only inspect joyrides, but also manage crowd flow and prevent overcrowding. The administration should create plans for various emergencies including evacuation procedures, medical emergencies and severe weather. Ensure all staff members are familiar with plans. Medical staff must be equipped with basic first aid training and supplies.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar

Deploy designated officials on ground

Safety protocols should be issued with strict compliance while organising any event, fair, or concert. It is the duty of the authorities concerned to check all the safety measures before giving nod to any event. For better compliance, a team of officials should be put on duty at the events. Strict punishment/ cancellation of license to hold more such events/ debar the artist to perform in future should be there in case of non-compliance.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Get an insight into the logistics

Before permitting the swing owners to operate in any city throughout India, the authorities concerned must inspect the raw material like cast iron or steel or plastic thoroughly. The officials must also verify all the facts like gross weight; weight it can hold; the height to which it can go etc. written on the swings and they themselves must take a ride on these swings. The owners must get the insurance done before allowing the people to have fun of such things. Last but not the least, there should be a trial for 2-3 days prior to the date of festivals and all the risks involved should amicably be explained to the public.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

Enforce safety regulations strictly

The UT administration should enforce strict safety regulations, conduct regular inspections of rides and equipment, and ensure operators are well-trained. Emergency response teams should be readily available, and crowd control measures must be implemented to prevent overcrowding. Clear safety guidelines, public awareness campaigns, and immediate action against violations will help safeguard the public at recreational events and fairs.

Khushboo Singla, Kharar

Ditch the lackadaisical approach

The recurring accidents at fairs are often caused by the lackadaisical approach of the administration. Most of the rides at recreational events lack safety measures. There are no helmets for the people enjoying the rides or proper belts. The administration should constitute a team to visit and monitor the basic safety measures at fairs. The event organisers should display proper plans outside the fair so that visitors should know the exit plans in case of emergency.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Ensure proper licences are issued

To improve public safety at recreational events and fairs, the administration should implement stronger safety regulations and routine inspections of rides and equipment. Clear emergency protocols, including evacuation plans and accessible first-aid stations, must be established. Event vendors and ride operators should be licensed and undergo regular safety training. The use of surveillance technology and emergency alert systems can enhance risk monitoring. Public awareness campaigns about safety guidelines should also be conducted.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Need to increase accountability

Mishaps and accidents at recreational events and fairs have increased maniold in the recent past. It shows that clearances are given to organisers without prior inspections. The officials who give permissions for such events must be made accountable for the incidents or accidents in future. Hardly any action has been initiated against the officials responsible or organisers for such accidents and that sets a bad example.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd.), Mohali

Issue equipment fitness certificates

The authorities concerned should take fitness certificates of all equipments on weekly basis duly signed by owners or Top officer of the event management company on line. The list of trained operators with Aadhar card should also be also taken. The U T Administration officers should also pay surprise visits every week to make sure that trained work force is operating equipments and that they are not drunk.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

Improve the screening process

Large gatherings during indoor and outdoor events with huge excitement also bring some safety risks of theft, assault, trampling incidents and malfunctioning structures. Measures include security screenings; establishing clear communication channels with important safety information; well-trained staff in operating emergencies; determining stakeholders' responsibility before the event; active coordination with local civic authorities; implementing strategies to manage crowd dynamics; and using feedback to enhance future event safety protocols can be beneficial.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Regulatory framework needed

The UT Administration should grant permission to such events and fairs only after due deliberation and inspection of safety measures in place. Enterprises like high-rise spinning swing rides should be licensed, empanelled and regulated as per standard norms. A formal regulatory framework to stipulate safety standards is the need of the hour. The admin should ensure that organisers steer clear of any technical fault in the equipment for which regular safety inspections are required.

Alka Tandon, Panchkula

Rigorous inspections are requitred

The UT administration must enforce strict licensing, conduct regular safety audits and mandate structural certifications for fairs and events. Adequate fire safety, controlled crowd management, and emergency response teams should be ensured. Amusement rides must undergo rigorous inspections, and organisers should be held accountable for negligence.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Notify Standard Operating Procedure

Accidents during fairs have become very common due to overcrowding of public at large. It is high time that UT administration should draw/make Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the safety of public at large and must be publicly made in newspaper, radio and TV for the information of public to adhere to SOPs.

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh

Regular checks can go a long way

The organisers should be made to seek appropriate licenses from the authorities who should in turn inspect the gadgets installed thoroughly after giving due trials. The gadgets already installed should be checked twice or once a week as warranted by their kind and nature. Further provisions be made for strict fines and punishments to be inflicted upon the organisers in case of happening of mishaps.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Advance safety audits can go a long way

Fix responsibility and accountability of the operators setting up rides at the events as well the organisers. Also charge them for criminal negligence in case of mishaps to send out a strong message against such carelessness. Advance safety audits can also act as deterrents for such incidents.

Ajay Jagga, Chandigarh

Set up tech team to inspect machinery

Before allowing permission to any operator to set up a joyrides, the administration's technical team may check the experience, infrastructure, manpower, life of machinery i.e. the date of purchase and expiry date, service book of machinery so that of any angle such type of incidents may not occur.

Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh