Damning delay: Rescue-1122 DG demands explanation over false report

DEO’s report says they had responded in 17 minutes, official report says response time was 23 minutes.

LAHORE: Rescue-1122 Director General Rizwan Naseer has expressed concern over the performance of the Punjab Emergency Service Lahore’s fire-fighting wing in the Shadbagh fire incident.

The DG has sought an explanation from District Emergency Officer Ahmed Raza on why Rescue-1122’s fire fighting team arrived at the scene after a delay of 23 minutes. The initial investigation report prepared by Raza had said that Rescue-1122’s response time was 17 minutes.

Rescue-1122 PRO Jam Sajjad Hussain said calculation of response time starts with the call for assistance. “According to the SOP, the official who takes the call must inquire about the location and then move a Rescue-1122 vehicle without delay.”

Hussain said once the vehicle is on its way, the operator should ask for the detailed address and inform the driver over the phone. The Express Tribune has learned that the operator on the Rescue-1122 helpline spoke to the caller for five minutes and it took another five minutes for the vehicle to be dispatched to the location of the fire, causing a delay in response.

Hussain said this was true. “All our systems are computerised so that the response time can be measured accurately.” He said Rescue-1122 teams across the Punjab were given a target response time of 7 minutes.

The explanation report sought from the Lahore DEO asks not only to explain the reason for the delay but also why the initial investigation report had given false information which had been submitted to a high-level committee formed under MNA Pervaiz Malik and the Lahore DCO.

When contacted, DEO Raza said that he was unaware that an explanation had been sought from him. He said he was unable to comment on the matter.

When asked about the difference in response time reported, he said, “I will wait for the final report from the high-level committee before explaining the delay to my department.”

Raza said Rescue-1122’s vehicles had computerised mechanisms and GPS tracking systems and no one could alter the calculation of response time.

In a press release issued by the Rescue-1122 spokesperson, the DG was quoted to have said that the Rescue-1122 had worked hard to establish a system to provide timely emergency services to citizens in need. “Negligence cannot be tolerated.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2015.