Employees Crunch and ageing fleet of automobiles and equipments posing critical problem for Fire Services

John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair: The latest main fireplace mishap at Aerial Bay bazaar in Diglipur, North Andaman, that has drawn sharp criticism for the important thing catastrophe response power significantly allegations {of professional} negligence, has delivered to fore the necessity for instant consideration of the native authorities in the direction of some obtrusive and publicly recognized deficiencies within the essential Andaman and Nicobar Police Fire Services.
Having grown through the years and regarded a power to reckon with as first responders to pure disasters, the community of Fire Stations unfold throughout these islands has largely drawn reward from residents within the latest years (barring a number of unlucky incidents) and the allegations into the Aerial Bay mishap seems to be critical in nature.
Shortage of manpower, delay in filling up of sanctioned posts, declining variety of technical officers within the senior rank owing to superannuations and delay in departmental promotions, ageing fleet of automobiles and equipments, hurdles in execution of modernization plans are among the many main points that has began taking a toll on the power.
As per studies, the A & N Police Fire Service is at present operating in need of round 400 employees in varied cadres. Retirement of many senior officers this 12 months has left a void within the technical arm within the essential company. Delay in filling up such posts holding Departmental Promotional Committee (DPC) conferences has turn out to be the necessity of the hour.
It can also be learnt that many different officers within the Fire Services Department are because of attain superannuation within the 12 months 2024 and lack of employees will solely add to the work burden on the present pool of employees adversely hampering the functioning of the company that’s straight associated to public lives and property.
As per dependable data, the Fire Station at Diglipur is at present operating in need of employees owing to delay in filling up of sanctioned vacancies, routine switch and postings, retirement of employees and so forth and the restricted variety of fireplace fighters presently posted on the Fire Station (headed by an Assistant Sub Inspector) are going through numerous issues in finishing up their mandated duties.
The Fire Station that covers an enormous jurisdiction of round 900 sq.kms and a inhabitants of over 1 lakh together with remotely situated hamlets, forest areas and so forth presently has 3 Fire Tenders, one Ambulance and one Utility Vehicle. However, delay in well timed upkeep of present automobiles and equipments, execution of modernization plans is reportedly brought about primarily by employees crunch on the Station and seeks instant consideration of the senior officers within the Andaman and Nicobar Police Fire Services.
“The Andaman and Nicobar Police Fire Services has 24 Fire Stations located in different parts of this geographically distributed island territory. But due to acute shortage of staff, most of these Stations are being headed by Constable-ranked staff. With an approximate staff strength of nearly 400, lack of promotions, delay in filling up of sanctioned vacancies etc have been long troubling the hardworking employees of the department. Allocating crucial tasks supervised in the technical wing of the headquarters of the Fire Services (lying or left vacant after retirements) to competent and eligible officials, at least on Current Duty Charge, can probably be one immediate way-out to ensure proper supervision of Fire Stations located in outer islands, address their concerns on priority basis, keep a track on timely execution of modernization plans as also get staffing issues resolved ensuring proper coordination with higher officials in the Andaman and Nicobar Police Fire Services. We just hope the authorities concerned pay timely attention in this regard. However, as a team we are a committed force. We’re fire-proof and each one of us give their best to maintain the hard-earned repute of the agency, despite prevailing challenges,” stated a firefighter, who doesn’t want to be named.
Regarding scarcity of manpower when contacted the SP of Fire Services, Varsha Sharma instructed Andaman Sheekha Daily that the division is properly conscious of this subject.
She added that the Department is engaged on the recruitment course of, which is taking a while to finish. “Soon positive results will come,” she added.
Regarding the allegations {of professional} negligence in the course of the Aerial Bay fireplace accident she stated that the matter is beneath investigation. “Our team is collecting reports,” she added.