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| Edited By: |Source: DNA |Updated: May 14, 2015, 01:56 PM IST
They are ordinary human beings rising to extraordinary challenges. The firefighters of Mumbai, like in any other city, are the true superheroes who routinely risk their lives to keep the people safe, but seldom get the recognition due to them. In the devastating Kalbadevi inferno on May 9, Mumbai lost Sanjay Rane (47) and Mahendra Desai (46) who were engaged in rescue operations. But, a society obsessed with Salman Khan’s fate in the hit-and-run-case had little time for real-life bravehearts. The electronic media, too, abdicated its responsibility, to whip up star frenzy. In no time, Rane and Desai’s sacrifices will be forgotten because, we, the people, take the selflessness of these foot soldiers for granted. Make no mistake, the two deceased firemen are as much a victim of the blaze as of the system.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, considered one of the richest civic bodies in Asia, has to shoulder the blame for the many ills plaguing the fire services department. There is an acute shortage of manpower — several officers are suspended or facing inquiry because of their alleged involvement in financial irregularities; the men have to battle the blaze with substandard equipment and protective gear. The uniform-procurement scam has put paid to efforts of purchasing life-saving multipurpose safety belts. In a city of highrises, 90-metre hydraulic ladders are essential to reach the top floors, but the department has to make do with only a 70-metre ladder, thus making the job of firemen all the more difficult and risky. The men are paid a pittance, compared to their counterparts in Europe and America.
Consider the other staggering odds in this high-risk job. Most firemen receive training only once — at the time of recruitment. They have a British-era manual as the guidebook, which is of no use because it doesn’t factor in the realities of a city that has changed immeasurably. The fire hydrants on the roads are colonial relics, long fallen into disrepair. Very few buildings, including skyscrapers, can boast of adequate fire-fighting infrastructure because though it is mandatory to obtain clearance from the fire department, there is ample scope to flout norms by greasing the palms of BMC officials.
The Kalbadevi incident also draws attention to the many dilapidated structures nestled in the narrow bylanes of the city, where fire-fighting becomes an even more arduous exercise because of lack of space. This is not a unique, city-specific phenomenon as other metros, too, have to grapple with the same problem. However, in Mumbai, there is the added disadvantage of vehicles parked on the roads and sidewalks, preventing free movement of fire engines.
Every time there is a devastating fire, all these issues crop up, only to be buried once the furore subsides. There have been proposals for a radical overhaul of the fire department, but it is clearly not a priority for either the state government or the BMC. Yet a slew of practical measures can go a long way in making the city safe: Taking prompt action following complaints of potential fire hazards from residents living in ramshackle buildings.
Conducting a comprehensive study to identify buildings that lack fire-safety measures and regularly updating the list. Making it mandatory for all buildings, old and new, to get clearances from fire department. Enlisting help of citizens by raising awareness through campaigning and inviting voluntary services. Investing in fire-fighters by increasing their salaries and upgrading their equipment and training.
This is not a tall order for the cash-rich BMC. A matter of life and death brooks no delay.
