NO INSURANCE: FIREMEN JITTERY

The Ludhiana factory disaster on Monday has left firemen across the state anxious about the fate of their families after them. Having no life insurances done by the government despite repeated claims and promises by ministers, the tragedy has led to the insecurity. ››

› The Ludhiana fire is not the first of its kind, but the government continues to operate on sleep mode... Our families will suffer as politicians will just make false promises. SADIQ MASIH, fire officer in Amritsar

AMRITSAR: The Ludhiana factory disaster on Monday has left firemen across the state anxious about the fate of their families after them. Having no life insurances done by the government despite repeated claims and promises by ministers, the tragedy in which at least 12 lives were lost, including those of firemen, has led to the insecurity.

During a reality check in Amritsar on Tuesday, it was learnt that the situation is grim here. Here, the staff say they have not even got salaries for the past three months. Pertinently, two firemen recently transferred to Ludhiana from Amritsar also got trapped under the debris of the building there; one of them was declared dead on Monday.

“What if we die while fighting flames? The Ludhiana fire is not the first of its kind, but the government continues to operate on sleep mode,” said Sadiq Masih, a fire station officer in Amritsar. “Our families left behind will suffer as politicians will just make false promises. Local bodies minister Navjot Sing hS idhu (M LA from Amritsar) had promised insurance cover for firemen across the state but nothing really moved .” The Amritsar fire department is in a shambles. While norms say there needs to be a fire station for population of every 50,000, Amritsar has four serving 25 lakh people. The buildings in which the fire department functions are in a depilated state too. Staff strength is 75.

“People here are fearlessly constructing multi-storey buildings violating fire safety norms. In absence of a hydraulic platform, it becomes a huge challenge for us to control fires. We have eight fire tenders in the district which have normal ladders attached with them,” said a senior fire officer. “These ladders can reach up to 25 feet. In case of a major accident in a taller building, it is very difficult.”

Sandeep Kumar, a fireman in the city, said at least two incidents of fire are reported daily in Amritsar and thus there is a dire need to strengthen and equip the fire stations here.

R oh anKa ly an, another fireman, said ,“We are working without salary for the past three months. There is no fire station in Tarn Tara nor Be as, so our teams rush to the spot in case of emergency there too. In Amritsar, which is at high risk due to the narrow lanes, at times we even struggle to reach the spot in time. We risk our lives but are not treated well by the government. We are part of the defence of the state and should be given due respect and privileges.”

The situation is no different in other parts. Pradeep, fireman at Far idkot,saidt hat without insurance and security gear, firefighters are put at risk by the government, and“that means the common citizens too are at risk ”.

WILLTAKEITUP:SIDHU

Local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu, when contacted, said CM Capt Amarinder Singh is “very muchconcerned”aboutfirefighters: “I will take up the insurance matter at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.” He said the previous government did not use a grant of Rs 95 crore for the fire department.