Kalka fire station in deplorable state

Hemant Kumar

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Kalka, July 6

Fire brigade station here, which was set up in 2010, is running from a deplorable building. The old building has four rooms. All rooms have not been repaired and painted since its inception. The roof of the building is also facing a leakage problem. Same is the state of the staff quarters on the first floor of the station.

The fire station, which has only two tenders, has been facing problem of shortage of staff. Despite 21 sanctioned posts, which include one fire officer, three leading firemen, three drivers and 14 firemen; the station has 13 staff members, which includes one fire officer (in charge), another fireman (who is on training for six months), three drivers and eight firemen on contract-basis.

Sources revealed that the problem of shortage of staff has already been brought in the knowledge of the Panchkula fire officer. The sources said the fire station is situated in a congested area. It is in dire a need to be shifted to some open space, probably near the main road. The fire station has no garage, so the two fire tenders remain parked on the open premises. In case of emergency, they face much inconvenience. The matter has already been put forth in the district meeting several times. The record of the fire station reveals that 118 fire incidents have taken place in the last one year. One fire tender in HMT, Pinjore, is lying futile since long. In case of emergency in Kalka, the fire tenders from Parwanoo and Panchkula are pressed into service.