The fire department operating in Haridwar district has been braving daunting odds while doing its duty of preventing fire and dousing flames. The stretches being clogged with traffic and encroached upon are making things for the fire fighters tough. Besides, the acute staff crunch is compounding their woes.
It is pertinent to mention that there are four fire stations at Mayapur, Roorkee, laksar and SIIDCUl area of the district with the sanctioned posts of one chief fire officer and four fire station officers.
However, there are only four lead fire men against the required strength of 16. Again, there are just ten fire drivers against the sanctioned 21. As per the fire station data, three each are working at Mayapur, Roorkee and SIIDCUl while there is only one fire driver at laksar fire station of the district.
Dhani Ram, fire station officer at Mayapur, informed The Pioneer that aside from the staff shortage, dismal traffic management is landing them in problem. “When we get emergency calls and rush out we invariably get stuck in traffic congestion. It inordinately delays things. We reach late. Besides, most of the stretches have been reduced to narrow lanes due to rampant encroachment. This is adding to our difficulties. By the time we reach the spots the property engulfed in flames get reduced to cinders,” he said.
Recounting their woes, he further said that they were not allowed free movement even when their vehicles negotiated the broad roads. “We get stuck in traffic snarls. The authorities concerned must come forward to effectively address this problem. Every moment counts in an emergency,” he said.
Dwelling on another serious problem they are encountering in the district, the official said that the fire department often fails to take action against the people who are found flouting the safety norms with the fire service act not being implemented.
Another fire official said on condition of anonymity that most of the flats, hotels, malls and even missions have been built in contravention of the National Building Code (NBC). “The city seems to be sitting on powder keg. Any time things might turn into inferno. But we are helpless to make them follow norms,” he rued.
Daani Ram further pointed out that the fire department is equipped with foam, dry chemical powder, water tenders as well as high pressure pump utility, back pack set, portable pumps and motor cycles for rescue operations.
He appealed to the people to desist from giving false alarms. “ Abusing 101, toll free number for fire department, is wrong,” he added.