Muktsar dist ill-equipped to meet fire exigencies

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 21

On an average, two or three fire incidents in fields are taking place every day in the ongoing wheat harvesting season in Muktsar district, but the fire brigade services are not sufficient.

The district has just six fire tenders and less than half of the staff that is required. Firemen said the situation was worst in Gidderbaha, where the entire sub-division was being taken care of by just one fire tender. Just 10 persons are deployed with the fire tender against the norm of 24 personnel with one fire tender to work in three shifts of eight hours each.

The situation is almost similar in Malout, where two fire tenders are functional, but just 18 persons have been deployed. “Each fire tender requires a staff of 24 people, including drivers, leading firemen, firemen, fire officer, sub-fire officer, but we are working with less than half of the required staff. Besides, more fire tenders are required to look after such a vast area,” said Narinder Bhullar, Fire Station Officer, Malout and Gidderbaha.

The situation is better in Muktsar. Here the fire fighting authorities are equipped with three big fire tenders, one small fire tender and a motorcycle. However, the staff shortage is again a problem as just 15 people, including five drivers, five firemen, one leading fireman, three sub-fire officer and one fire station officer are deployed.

Chaman Lal Sharma, Fire Station Officer, Muktsar, said, “The state government has bought new fire tenders, which are getting fabricated and will be allotted to the fire stations soon.”

Courtesy: The Tribune