Chief Fire Officer faces probe for ‘lapse’

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19

Fatehabad Chief Fire Officer Yasin Khan and another fireman are facing probe for breach in security during President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to the district on July 15.

Deputy Commissioner Hardeep Singh has sought Khan’s explanation after Jind SP Arun Singh, who was on duty at the makeshift helipad at Bhodia Khera sports stadium, wrote to him.

The Jind SP, according to sources, wrote to the DC on the complaint of a DSP who was on duty at the location where the incident occurred.

It was alleged that a fire tender barged into the stadium when the President’s helicopters had already landed and vehicles had already been lined up for the President.

Confirming, Singh said that he had sought explanation from Khan.

Khan, however, refuted the allegations and said that a twist was being given by the DSP who had an argument with him over the location of fire tenders.

“The DSP wanted me to shift the location of fire tenders. However, I told him that the vehicles had been stationed in accordance with norms and after consultation with an officer of the Air Force. In oil fire emergencies, the response time for the fire officers is very short and the fire tenders have to be located accordingly. However, the DSP continued arguing with me and has given my name, too, in the incident of a fire tender entering the stadium after landing of helicopters though I was present in the stadium throughout,” the fire officer said.

Khan said that he had sought explanation from fireman Somesh Kumar who was in charge of the fire tender that entered after the landing of helicopters.

“Somesh has replied that he was asked to sprinkle water in the stadium and by the time he returned after refilling the fire tender with water, he noticed the helicopter landing and moved his vehicle towards his assigned location in the stadium. Though the police were present at the gate, none stopped him from entering,” Khan said.