Participants enjoy a rain dance at the Bhubaneswar Club on Saturday evening. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, May 13: Fire engines running out of water is not uncommon, but these emergency vehicles being pressed into service to organise a rain dance is.

This was exactly what happened last night when a fire tender-aided rain dance was organised at the Bhubaneswar Club, the watering hole of the capital’s swish set. The fires of the resultant controversy are yet to be doused.

The question being asked is why was a fire tender, which under normal circumstances should have gone on emergency duty, was used for the purpose of private entertainment and that, too, with the approval of the top officials of the department.

The club, no stranger to controversies, is patronised chiefly by top-notch bureaucrats, some of whom happen to be its office bearers. Home secretary U.N. Behera is the vice-president of the club.

A retired IPS officer, Ashok Sahu said it was misuse of a government service meant for emergency purposes. “As the club has powerful people as members, they influenced fire service officials into sending the vehicle though it is illegal. The government should inquire into this,” said Sahu.

However, the fire service officials said there was nothing illegal in sending a fire tender for private purposes on requisition. Sources in the fire department said prior approval was needed from the chief fire officer before sending a fire engine in such cases.

“One can take the vehicle on hire after paying a certain amount. We have been providing the fire engines for film shoots and for private expos and fairs on payment. There was nothing wrong with sending the vehicle for the rain dance programme last night,” said chief of state fire services Binoy Behera.

According to the provision, free requisition of fire tender is made for various government programmes. Similarly, private parties hosting major exhibitions and expos also deploy the vehicle at a cost of Rs 3,000, excluding fuel charges. This incident has not gone down well with the people of the city. Some argued that with a huge scarcity of drinking water in the city during summer, water should not have been wasted in this manner.

Social activist Biswajit Mohanty said it was completely illegal to use the fire service vehicle for entertainment.

“The government must inquire into such activities ,” said Mohanty, adding that use of the vehicle for film shoots also is illegal and should not be encouraged.

Efforts to contact club officials for their comments proved futile.