Another firefighter loses his life
Rescue 1122 official says victim was leading a firefighting operation
PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
LAHORE:
Another rescuer lost life while leading a firefighting operation in Gowalamndi on Wednesday night.
The victim was identified as Waseem Abbass. The deceased, who was 34 years old and a resident of Bara Sanda, is survived by a son, daughter and a widow.
Rescue 1122 official says Abbass was leading a firefighting operation in a house situated near Diyal Singh College on Nisbat Road. During the operation, as he set foot on a rooftop, it collapsed. The roof was damaged because of the intensity of the fire.
The victim was trapped under the debris. Another operation was launched for his recovery and it took a rescue team at least two hours to recover the body.
His funeral prayers were offered at the Rescue Command and Control Centre in Lahore in which Director General Punjab Emergency Service Dr Rizwan Naseer, the victim’s family members, friends, relatives, colleagues and others participated.
Expressing his grief over the sad demise of Abbas, Naseer said that the deceased was a brave and professional firefighter who gave 12 years of his life to emergency services. He pointed out that Abbas led many major firefighting operations.
“He was leading the crew to fight the fire in a house and gave his life to save the lives of other people.”
Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Muhammad Farooq said the DG personally supervised all funeral arrangements and ensured all possible moral and financial support from the Punjab Emergency Services.
At least 19 rescuers have been martyred in the line of duty. In 2016, a rescuer was electrocuted to death in Iqbal Town Lahore. The victim was identified as Mudassar and he was 40 years old. A rescue vehicle had caught fire when a high tension wire fell on it. In 2008, over a dozen firefighters had lost their livee in the Ghakkar Plaza fire incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2019.
Another rescuer lost life while leading a firefighting operation in Gowalamndi on Wednesday night.
The victim was identified as Waseem Abbass. The deceased, who was 34 years old and a resident of Bara Sanda, is survived by a son, daughter and a widow.
Rescue 1122 official says Abbass was leading a firefighting operation in a house situated near Diyal Singh College on Nisbat Road. During the operation, as he set foot on a rooftop, it collapsed. The roof was damaged because of the intensity of the fire.
The victim was trapped under the debris. Another operation was launched for his recovery and it took a rescue team at least two hours to recover the body.
His funeral prayers were offered at the Rescue Command and Control Centre in Lahore in which Director General Punjab Emergency Service Dr Rizwan Naseer, the victim’s family members, friends, relatives, colleagues and others participated.
Expressing his grief over the sad demise of Abbas, Naseer said that the deceased was a brave and professional firefighter who gave 12 years of his life to emergency services. He pointed out that Abbas led many major firefighting operations.
“He was leading the crew to fight the fire in a house and gave his life to save the lives of other people.”
Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Muhammad Farooq said the DG personally supervised all funeral arrangements and ensured all possible moral and financial support from the Punjab Emergency Services.
At least 19 rescuers have been martyred in the line of duty. In 2016, a rescuer was electrocuted to death in Iqbal Town Lahore. The victim was identified as Mudassar and he was 40 years old. A rescue vehicle had caught fire when a high tension wire fell on it. In 2008, over a dozen firefighters had lost their livee in the Ghakkar Plaza fire incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2019.