Hyd fire brigade sprays chemical
For the first time, the Hyderabad fire brigade was used to spray disinfectants in the city as a measure against the spread of Covid-19. Fire tenders were filled with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and used to spray the disinfectant.
It is a three-day action plan for the fire brigade which started on Thursday. On the first day, the fire brigade sprayed the disinfectant near important places like Charminar and Macca masjid and areas surrounding the High Court. Apart from that, the disinfectants were sprayed at Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital and Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. Speaking to Deccan
Chronicle, district fire officer M. Srinivas Reddy said, “Sodium hypochlorite is one of the best disinfectants that can be used to sanitise a particular area. We have identified some places where there is high public movement to spray the chemical. It is highly diluted in the ratio of 1:100. This disinfectant kills viruses and its effects will last for six to eight hours.”
Mr Reddy added that though the GHMC is also spraying the chemical, its equipment is very small and does not cover a large area. The spray from the fire tenders cover a larger area.
Nine fire tenders were put to use. Unlike fire fighting special arrangements were made for the fire vehicles to send minute droplets ina spray form. It will almost take an hour to empty one fire engine.Gowliguda station fire officer Raj Kumar said, “Using three fire engines, we sprayed the disinfectant at Osmania General Hospital premises. Our personnel sprayed the hospital wards also.”
Fire officials plan to sanitise Koti Maternity Hospital, Sultan Bazaar, Malakpet, Central Armed Reserve headquarters and other areas on Friday.