Kerala   

Broadway fire revisited

K.S. Sudhi

CHILLING MEMORIES: Fire-fighters in action at Broadway in Kochi when a fire broke out in the busy commercial area some years ago. A file photo.

KOCHI: The visuals of the fire accident on S.M. Street in Kozhikode beamed live by TV channels brought back memories of the fire that took place at Broadway some years ago to traders and residents in the city.

It was fortuitous that the damage caused by the fire was not as widespread and led to no loss of life. However, a few shops were gutted causing considerable financial loss to traders.

Since that accident, the city has grown busier. Yet, one would not be able to say whether there has been any considerable improvement in the fire and rescue situation on one of the busiest trade centres of the city.

Narrow roads continue to be choked with people and roadside vendors. Vehicles parked chaotically along the left flank of the road make vehicular movement a time-consuming process.

The efforts of the fire fighters to bring the fire under control during the accident were delayed, as they could not get water from the hydrants. They had to travel to some distance to fill the fire engines with water.

The situation has not improved since then. The hydrants are still dry and traffic bottlenecks on the busy roads have only worsened. More than that, the city dwellers have grown cold to accidents.

Those at the Fire and Rescue Department complain that vehicles are reluctant to give way to fire engines that honk their horns and sound their sirens. Is it because the drivers in AC vehicles who have their windshields all rolled up are unable to hear the sirens, doubt the Fire Fighters.

On Thursday, there was an emergency call from Thevara, which was attended by the Fire officials located at Gandhi Nagar.

It was an uphill task to reach the site of the accident by crossing the South overbridge. Much time was lost negotiating the busy roads and the growing reluctance to give way to the fire tenders have made matters worse, complained the fire fighters.

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