There is a rise in fire mishaps for quite some time now. A number of residential houses and other structures birntdown in such incidents in different parts of Kashmir.
Several families have been rendered homeless amid intense cold,and property worth crores of rupees destroyed. Some families are unable to save their belongings in such incidents.
There is an immediate need to provide relief to all the affected people. Besides, they should be helped in their early rehabilitation.
It has been noticed that in autumn and winter the fire mishaps are on the rise. The people should take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents. The causes which lead to fire must be addressed. The carelessness proves costly.
Sometimes the electric short circuit in the buildings is the cause of the fire in a number of mishaps. Due care must be taken in this direction. If there are electric faults in the buildings those should be removed and necessary repair work done.
Use of kangris and heating appliances with carelessness also causes fire. Keeping firewood and dry grass in unsafe rooms or sheds too sometimes cause fire.
Whatever be the causes, those can be taken care of with preventive measures. There is a dire need of such measures otherwise more fire incidents will render more families homeless during winter months. There is a demand from the people from a number of areas for establishing fire stations there.
According to them they do not have fire stations in their neighbourhood and whenever there is a fire incident it takes time for the fire tenders from other areas to reach the spot. The people say there should not be delay in the start of fire fighting operation.
The concerned authorities must look into such demand and establish fire stations, wherever required. Secondly, the fire and emergency services department personnel must always keep themselves ready and fully equipped to deal with fire incidents. The fire tenders must be functional and having reserved water.
Sometimes the fire fighting operation becomes problematic in the areas with non-availability of water at that time.
The reserved water in the tanks with the fire services personnel proves helpful in extinguishing the fire. The fire fighters risk their lives during the fire fighting and their work should not be disturbed by unnecessary intervention by the local residents on the spot.