DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Apr 04: A brand new fire tender, which was sent to Diglipur Island just two months back, has gone out of order due to some faults in the Fire Pump unit.
The Fire Tender, bearing registration number AN-01, H 0047 was procured recently by A & N Fire Services. Sources told Andaman Sheekha that due to damage in the PTO pump the Fire Pump is not working hence the fire fighters are unable to use the new Fire Tender for dousing fire. At present the new Fire Tender is used only as water tank.
Presently in case of fire accidents, the Fire Bridge unit of Diglipur sends an old Fire Tender, bearing number AN 01-A 0067, to the accident site and then the new Fire Tender was sent with additional water and the same was used as water tanker. This means that if there are two fire accidents at the same time in Diglipur Region, the Fire Brigade unit will have no other options.
Everyday two or three calls of Forest or Bush Fire are reaching to the Fire Brigade unit of Diglipur and all these cases are handled by the old Fire Tender and in case of emergency Coast Guard and ANC fire tenders are called for help.
Highly placed sources told Andaman Sheekha that a signal was sent to the Fire Brigade headquarter by the Fire Brigade unit of Diglipur regarding fault in the Fire Pump unit of new Fire Tender but in reply the HQ urged the Fire Brigade unit to carryout the repair work locally, which is not possible.
Hence the New Fire Tender has become a white elephant. Hope the Director General of Police will find some time to look into this matter and will issue directions to repair the new Fire Tender Immediately as a stitch in time saves nine.
