In what should be a major concern for one and all, the summer capital Srinagar has witnessed over 1000 fire incidents in the last two years.
According to data with Fire and Emergency ServicesDepartment (F&ES), in 2018, around 511 and in 2019 over 500 fire incidentswere reported in Srinagar. The number in Srinagar is higher than otherdistricts in the Kashmir province.
Deputy Director, F&ES, Bashir Ahmad Shah pegged the fireincidents in Srinagar in the last two years to over 1000. “We have found thatthe number of fire incidents is higher in the winter probably because thepeople leave electric or gas gadgets unattended,” he said.
Shah believes the number of fire incidents in Srinagar ismore because it is congested.
On the recent Khanyar fire incident, in which three membersof a family including their minor daughter were charred to death, the DeputyDirector F&ES said “The fire was such that when our team reached the spotit had already engulfed the whole building. Even their neighbours could notsave them.”
On the cause of fire at Khanyar, he said “The matter isunder police investigation as three deaths have taken place. Only afterinvestigation is completed we can tell about the actual cause of fire that ledto the death of the man his wife and their daughter.”
Meanwhile, in view of the growing number of fire incidentsin Srinagar, the district administration here has sanctioned upgradation offire apparatus under Smart City Project.
According to officials, the upgradation of fire apparatus ispart of the Srinagar Smart City Project. Being one its main focus areas, theproject envisages strengthening of the fire and emergency response apparatusacross the Srinagar city.
The project among a host of interventions includesstrengthening of all 23 fire stations and their integration and development ofover 100 fire hydrants at different locations.
It also includes enhancing capabilities of each fire stationthrough equipment with requisite fire-fighting apparatus including fire tendersof different capacities and sizes. The latter includes the procurement of 15small-size fire tenders, which are being introduced here for the first time.The aim is to enable access to congested locations where normal-size tenderscannot reach.
Large fire tenders with 7500-litre capacities are also beingprocured as part of the project for enhancing relevant capabilities of the fireservice department of the district.
Other major components of the project are the development ofa smart control room and setting up of a trusted wireless apparatus at 80different locations.
Strengthening of fire service response mechanism for areasin and around the Dal Lake also makes part of the project. It includes settingup of two proper fire stations and six boats with fire-fighting capabilities.
The project is targeted for completion within four months.Different departments of the district including Fire & Emergency, PublicWorks and Public Health Engineering are involved in its execution.
The project includes setting up a well-equipped trainingcentre at the fire service headquarters in the city. Besides the fire servicestaff local volunteers will also be offered fire-fighting training at thecentre.
The project also includes a host of other measures ranginglike regular fire safety audits of all kinds of structures, installation of afire-alarm system across the city and a putting up a mechanism ensuring strictadherence to national building fire-safety codes.