“FSAI's contribution in creating awareness laudable”
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Anil K. Chopra on Saturday said fire-fighting was part of defence services, and the use of explosives, electrical wiring, and handling of missile attacks on ships had much to do with fire-fighting. During war time, when ships were hit by missiles or were bombed, fire-fighting and enemy fighting had to be handled simultaneously.
“The Indian Navy is in the forefront of handling such responsibilities effectively,” he said and reminded that Naval personnel had successfully handled the HPCL disaster in the past.
Inaugurating the two-day seminar and exhibition on ‘Fire and electrical safety, security and automation' organised by the local chapter of Fire and Security Association of India here on Saturday, he said it was heartening to know that FSAI was functioning on a non-profit basis and rendering service to the nation by creating awareness on a crucial subject.
Fire was a source of comfort and, if mishandled, could lead to catastrophes of the worst sort witnessed in history.
Referring to the history's worst catastrophes which occurred in Turkey, Chicago, and in a hospital in Kolkata recently, the Vice-Admiral said innumerable people had lost their lives. A study of the disasters exposed the inadequacy of the machinery handling the disasters.
He lauded the role of the FSAI in creating awareness, particularly among the schoolchildren. Earthquakes, lightning, and electrical power also contributed to fire disasters.
The urban areas were more susceptible to fire accidents and 5 per cent of those killed in various disasters were on account of fire mishaps. The fire service stations in the country were 210 years old.
‘A dire necessity'
FSAI national general secretary K.P. Dominic said, in a world of disasters, both man-made and natural, living every day was a miracle. He said fire and electrical safety were such crucial subjects, which regrettably did not find any attention in school syllabus and topics of lectures.
The FSAI, on its part, was educating schoolchildren. He said that housewives and family members should know basics of fire-fighting. People were clamouring to buy electronic gadgets such as television sets but never thinks that a fire extinguisher was needed at home. Family members should buy one and learn to handle it as even at domestic level, fire mishaps occur. The cost of a fire extinguisher is a mere Rs.900. He announced that upgradation of the local chapter from its sub-centre to independent chapter and elevation of joint secretary K. Leela Prasad to be the president of the upgraded chapter.
Mr. Leela Prasad welcomed the gathering.
Preparedness in handling disasters not up to the mark: Chopra Role of family members vital, says FSAI general secretary
