Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Dec 26: Fire-related events kill hundreds every year in the country. The toll is avoidable, but people die simply because of lack of enough personnel and resources to tackle fires. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Andaman and Nicobar Police Fire Services is reportedly grappling with shortage of staff in various categories since years.
As per reports, the A & N Police Fire Service is plagued by staff shortage of about 300 staff in various cadres. Retirement of many senior officers in the crucial agency in the coming years will take further toll on the crucial agency. Almost all of the 24 Fire Stations across these islands are facing shortage of personnel thereby adding to the burden of the existing staff and often delaying response time to fire calls. Tardy action by the top bosses in the Department towards filling up sanctioned vacancies in the fire department is likely to aggravate the situation further, sources claim.
“The duration of a fireman’s duty is 24 hours straight, every alternate day. While on-duty, firemen have to respond to every call they receive round the clock, no matter how many they do. During the 24 hours of their duty, they reside in the barracks of their fire station. Their job is as much training as it is presence of mind. Unaware of the surroundings, they enter a place to combat fires and save lives. But delay in filling up of sanctioned vacancies has now become a cause of concern,” said a source, who didn’t wish to be named.
“Most of the Fire Stations in the archipelago are running short of personnel adding to the burden on the existing staff. Performing duties 24 hours straight is now mean job. Limited number of personnel means minimum grant of leaves even for the fire fighters. In the recent days, some have not been granted adequate ELs to attend final rituals of the near and dear ones. Despite having proved our expertise in fighting fires on several occasions in the city, the agency here continues to grapple with massive shortage of personnel. It would be in the interest of the society at large if the department initiates recruitment drives to fill up sanctioned vacancies at the earliest,” said another on conditions of anonymity.
Now concerned citizens are demanding intervention of the Lt. Governor as a detailed review of this situation might solve this crisis. A stitch in time can save nine and hence timely action in this regard can save many lives in Andaman.
To cross check the data as well as inputs and to know the reasons behind the shortage, Andaman Sheekha correspondent visited Fire Service to meet the CFO for several days but even after repeated attempts there was no one available for a comment. Hence Andaman Sheekha Daily is forced to carry this story without an official comment.
The A & N Fire Service functions as a separate unit under the control and supervision of Chief Fire Officer, Superintendent of Police (Fire), Inspector General of Police (L&O) and the head of the department is Director General of Police, A&N Islands. The agency attended 229 Fire Calls 432 Special Calls in the current year till 30/11/2021. Property lost during the current year till 30/11/2021 is 1,54,21,000/- (Approx.) and property saved during the current year till 30/11/2021 is 21,53,74,900/- (Approx). Services rendered by the A & N Police Fire Service include Fire Calls, First Responder in any Disaster/Emergency and Special Service Calls.
