SHILLONG, Aug 30: East Khasi Hills district administration on Tuesday issued an advisory for safety of visitors, spectators and participants of various events to be organized in the district.

The advisory has been issued for all organizations including government, non-government, academic, religious institutions, sports associations, trade organisations, political organisations, event managers and planners, etc for due compliance.

The decision was taken with a reference to occurrences in the recent past in such events that had witnessed high turnout of crowd and spectators.

The organizers have been asked to avoid construction of makeshift galleries for accommodating the public/spectators as they may collapse and pose danger to the public.

All makeshift structures, if at all, need to be vetted by a technical authority and certified to be structurally stable. Help-desk, first-aid and an ambulance facility should be made available without fail.

The organizers are also asked to ensure there should be a proper briefing made on the arrangements made for the games/events, etc. by the organizers to the general public through a press release or other forms of media. This must include the date and timing of events, list of activities to be held at the venue(s), opening and closing times, modes of transport, entry passes if applicable, etc.

A detailed advisory on what is recommended, allowed and not allowed to be carried inside the venue must be shared well in advance for the benefit of visitors.

Live telecast of sports events or shows such as football, music concerts, etc., through giant screens in various locations is encouraged in order to regulate and control the inflow of crowd to a single venue.

The organizers should have event route maps with entry/exit points on display at prominent places. Signages for water, toilets, first–aid centre, entry and exit, “You are here” signages, etc, should be displayed clearly at multiple locations. Important contact numbers like of the Help-Desk, Police and Fire and Emergency Services should be also displayed.

Visitors should be made aware of the registration requirements and transport mode, if any, well in advance of the event dates to avoid confusion and rush.

The organizers will monitor the movement of the crowd by installing CCTV at various locations of the venue and liaise closely with security personnel on duty.

The organizers should have communication plans and communication equipment (PA systems, etc) in place to send messages to the crowd. The announcers should be able to give announcements in the local language and should be well-versed on the evacuation route and other requirements for other exigencies.

The organizers should ensure that stairways and areas where barricades like chains are erected are kept well lit and visible to visitors during night-time lest they trample upon them if there is a heavy rush, that could result in a stampede. The emergency exits should not be barricaded, blocked, or otherwise inaccessible.

The shops or vendors, if any, have to be confined to one side of the road and there should be a space of 3 or 4 meters in between cohorts of 5 – 6 shops so that one can move freely through such space in the event of unexpected rush.

Sufficient volunteers/ bouncers with clearly identifiable uniform/ IDs are to be available at all times.

The visitors should be encouraged to throw food waste, plastic bottles, etc. in clearly identified garbage bins.

To avoid fire-related incidents, the organizers should ensure that fire safety standards are followed. Generators, circuit breakers, etc. should be kept in an isolated place away from the crowd. There should be safe and clearly labeled storage of fuel (e.g. diesel to be used by generators).

There should be sufficient equipment for fire safety response and first aid kits, along with designated vehicles/ambulances for catering to any public requirement.

Ensure that all structures and electrical wiring /appliances are certified for safety by technically qualified personnel designated by the Government.

The organizers should have a contingency plan of action for all events ready in case of any eventuality.

Organisers should seek written permission for large-scale events from the Deputy Commissioner clearly indicating measures to be put in place pertaining to the above points and approach the Police and other departments for assistance if required to prevent any untoward incidents and for smooth conduct of the games/ events.