Fire, disaster wings remain cool

KOCHI: Though Kochi is quite vulnerable to disasters of high intensity, the  two major departments - Fire and Rescue Services and Disaster Management wings - are yet to be on the alert following the Kolkata hospital accident. The mishap has once again brought to the fore the roles of these departments in monitoring the chances of a similar outbreak in the city.On the stipulations regarding a NOC, an official with the Fire and Rescue Services told City Express that it is mandatory that the Fire and Rescue Services conduct proper inspection before a building was constructed  and follow it up once in a month.“But, it is not being adhered to. Besides shrugging off the responsibilities, it has become common with the department to send documents to the higher authorities without doing the mandatory checks,” he said.The Fire and Rescue Services does not have any modern equipment for fire fighting. Not a single unit in the district possess a skylift which is a must in case of an emergency. Fire fighters said the lack of equipment causes great difficulties for them during rescue operations.Fire and Rescue Service, Thiruvananthapuram, technical director confirmed this and added that the department was planning to buy skylifts and other modern gadgets. Lack of coordination between Fire and Rescue Services and the Disaster Management Cell is adding to the woes.The disaster management wing at the Collectorate, Kakkanad, is not equipped to deal with a critical  situation. Though they claim that they usually coordinate with the police and the Fire and Rescue Services, the latter refuted it.