**Bhubaneswar**: One week back, a 245-member team of the Odisha Fire Services had brave heartedly gone for relief and rescue work in the flood-ravaged State of Kerala. Today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik thanked the fire personnel for their valour and display of humanity and felicitated them for their noble deed.
The Chief Minister also announced an annual grant of Rs 25 lakhs for the Fire Welfare Fund of the State in honor of the exemplary service.
Expressing happiness over the occasion, DGP Fire Service, Commandant General of Home Guards & Director, Civil Defence BK Sharma said, “Our service has been appreciated by Kerala government, and the print and electronic media of that State. So, definitely it feels great to be felicitated by the home State as well.”
Notably on August 18, as per direction of State Government, a team of 245 fire personnel along with all necessary equipments including 64 power boats were dispatched to Kerala to assist the authorities in rescue and relief operations.
The team rescued around 5000 marooned people from water-logged areas and also distributed relief materials. They also carried medical personnel to inaccessible areas besides clearing off blocked roads.
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