Amritsar gets six new fire tenders ahead of festival of lights

In a move aimed at strengthening fire safety measures ahead of the Diwali festival, Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation on Sunday handed over six new state-of-the-art Fire Brigade vehicles to the Fire Department. The addition, described as a “Diwali gift” for the city, is expected to significantly enhance emergency response and disaster management capabilities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Bhatia reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and development of the holy city. He noted that the risk of fire incidents typically increases during Diwali festivities due to the widespread use of fireworks, often resulting in property loss and, at times, casualties.

“Our administration has taken preventive steps to avoid such mishaps by strengthening the Fire Brigade Department with modern equipment and vehicles,” he said.

With the inclusion of these new vehicles, the total strength of Amritsar’s fire fleet has risen to 20 tenders. The newly inducted vehicles include three large fire tenders, one small tender, one small tender-cum-rescue vehicle, and one specialised safety vehicle designed for emergency operations.

Mayor Bhatia further stated that the municipal corporation’s Fire Brigade Department extends its services beyond city limits, covering areas from the Attari border to Beas and Dera Baba Nanak.

“Our fire service personnel are trained and prepared to respond swiftly to emergencies across the entire region,” he added.

The Mayor highlighted ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and waste management in Amritsar. He said the municipal corporation is prioritising solutions to the city’s solid waste management challenges.

“In the coming days, Amritsar will emerge as a cleaner, brighter, and safer city,” he said, appealing to residents to cooperate in maintaining civic cleanliness. Highlighting current development work, Bhatia announced that a heritage-themed project worth Rs 41 crore has been launched to beautify four major roads leading to Darbar Sahib. In addition, the MC is undertaking the repair and improvement of several other roads to ensure better infrastructure for both residents and pilgrims.