Municipal bodies told to be ready for fire emergencies

Dadu village inferno leads to administrative shake up

HYDERABAD:

Following the tragic fire incident in Dadu district which claimed lives of nine children, the district administration Hyderabad has alerted the municipal authorities to ensure preparedness for fire emergencies.

The instructions in this regard were conveyed in a letter written by Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro to Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, District Council, Municipal Committee Qasimabad and Town Committee Husri.

He asked them to ensure that the fire tenders are in working condition and that if they required any repair or maintenance the same should be done on priority. The municipalities have also been directed to provide the protective gear like helmets, long rubber shoes, fire globes, emergency rope ladder, fire blanket and fire suit, among other equipment, to the fire fighters. "The fire brigade staff should be available round the clock at the stations without fail." Soomro further instructed the authorities to carry out mock fire extinguishing exercises as a routine to prepare the staff and to learn the advanced ways of fighting the blazes.

"Such exercises should be started immediately with intimation to the DC office." The municipal organizations have also been told to start a 24/7 helpline which should receive calls and respond immediately to the fire incidents. Taking notice of often repeated complaints about unavailability of water for the fire tenders, the DC directed Water and Sanitation Agency to provide water to the fire tenders without any excuse. "We need hydrants in all parts of the city instead of just one or two fixed points. This is one of the main reasons behind the delayed response," a fire staff, who requested anonymity, said while talking to The Express Tribune.

"Unavailability of funds in the hands of the municipal authorities also obstructs fire fighting." The DC in his letter also directed the District Health Office, Liaquat University Hospital and Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative to dedicate ambulances and equip the taluka hospitals, basic health units and rural health units to treat the burns injuries.

He warned all the officials concerned that they will be held responsible if official negligence became the reason for loss of a life or lives. NDMA distributes compensation cheques The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provided financial assistance to the victims of the fire incident in a village in Mehar town of Dadu district. NDMA Member Operations Brig Waseem Uddin, handed over Rs300,000 worth of cheques against each of the nine deceased children to their parents while other 75 victims of the blazes were given Rs100,000 each.

Waseemuddin told the media that he conveyed condolence on behalf of prime minister Shahbaz Sharif to the families who lost their loves ones. Quoting the provincial authorities, he said the incident is also being probed to check arson or accidental fire triggered the blazes.