The department has procured 10 boats in March this year, both fibre and inflatable, besides imparting the necessary training to its personnel.
The Karnataka fire and emergency services department is all geared up to face the monsoon fury.
The department has procured 10 boats in March this year, both fibre and inflatable, besides imparting the necessary training to its personnel, according to the director-general of police (fire and emergency services) Jija Madhavan Hari Singh.
She added that the department would purchase 20 more boats, depending on fund allocation.
“We are well-equipped now. Preparations are being completed to tackle the challenges in the flood-prone districts in North Karnataka as well as the low-lying areas of Bangalore,” the DGP said.
The 10 boats purchased now, were handed over to the home guards. Ten boats were already with the department. The boats, with a capacity to carry 16 persons, were purchased for Rs76.07 lakh.
Besides purchasing boats, the department also upgraded the motors to 75 HP from the previous 40 HP. The engines were upgraded after the existing boats were found inadequately powered last year, during the October floods in North Karnataka.
“We have upgraded the engines 40 HP to 75 HP at the cost of Rs7 lakh each,” said Jayaprakash Nayak, inspector-general of police and additional commandant general, home guards. The department was also training its men. “The first batch of 80 men completed their training on April 25. The 80-man strong second batch has been undergoing training since May 19 in Bangalore,” he said.
DGP Jija said the men were also undergoing training in diving. “The personnel, selected for diving lessons, are trained at Srirangapatna, where a specialised group will impart the necessary expertise,” she said, adding that diving equipment were also procured to tackle any eventualities.
The trained crew would be deployed mainly in the flood-prone districts, Mysore, Shimoga, Bellary, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. A few men and four boats would be stationed in Bangalore.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}