300 fire hydrants non-operational

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 20

As many as 300 out of 500 fire hydrants in the capital city are non-operational. Although every fire incident in Shimla comes as a reminder, the administration is yet to wake up from the deep slumber.

During British days and till early 70s, water used to run round the clock in dedicated fire hydrants, which were clearly marked with iron plaque and regular fire exercises were carried out. Firemen were so trained that no time was lost in locating the fire hydrants and laying the house pipes, but the situation is totally different today. At least 50 major fire incidents have been reported in the past four decades, causing a huge loss to monumental buildings.

Most of the old houses are heavily timbered, making these highly inflammable. Keeping in view the concentration of buildings on the congested Mall Road, Ram Bazaar and Middle Bazaar, 244 fire hydrants were set up. However, of these only 112 are functional. Several hydrants have vanished under a thick coating of bitumen.

Dharam Chand Sharma, a fire officer at the Mall Road fire station, said the neglect of fire hydrants in these most vulnerable areas was a major cause of concern. “I had written to higher officials and the Shimla Municipal Corporation in this regard, but to no avail,” he said.

In the past four decades, several historic buildings had been gutted and replaced by concrete buildings. These included Himachal Dham (Secretariat of the Himachal Government) and now housing the office of All-India Radio, Peterhoff, housing the Raj Bhawan, General Post Office, Deputy Commissioner Office, Office of Accountant General, Railway Board and Army Training Command, General Army Headquarters(GHQ) during British days.

The other buildings included Kennedy Cottage, the first permanent structure raised in Shimla, Kennedy House, Army Mess, Office of MPP and Power, Snowdon (now IGMC), Harcourt Butler School ( now Kendriya Vidyalaya), Army Hospital, Border Roads Organisation office, Wildflower Hall and Jankidas Building.