TIRUPATI: The Andhra Pradesh Fire Services department has proposed to upgrade and modernise the fire-fighting equipment and facilities in Tirupati/Tirumala by including modern fire tenders.

At a media conference here on Sunday, G. Pratap Reddy, Regional Fire Officer, Anantapur Range, said that the decision was taken in tune with the changing times where the priority had changed from fire-fighting to prevention by following safety measures. Along with Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, the Government had attached top priority to modernise fire services in Tirupati, identifying it as a disaster-prone city, thanks to the huge pilgrim influx.

A multi-purpose fire tender, to be funded by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, would be procured at a cost of Rs.30 lakh and stationed at Tirumala hills to meet exigencies.

The single unit station at Tirumala had been doubled recently.

Similarly, a search and rescue team would be formed in Tirupati downhill with adequate manpower and state-of-the-art equipment.

In the next financial year, the ramshackle building housing the Fire station near the Court complex here would be demolished and a multi-storeyed structure erected to suit the additional requirements.

The proposal for a fire station in Thavanampalle had been agreed in principle, which would take the number of installations in the district to 16, he added.

Mr. Reddy, who recently took over the range comprising Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Prakasam and Guntur districts, warned cinema halls, shopping malls, residential apartments and other high-rise buildings to strictly adhere to the safety parameters laid down by the department.

While expressing helplessness over taking stern action on the violators due to the inadequate manpower, Mr. Reddy however said that the legal cell proposed to be formed at the State-level would take care of prosecuting the regular offenders and violators.

District Fire Officer G.Kuppaiah Chetty and Station Fire Officer V.Srinivas Reddy were present.

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