The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A torrid time for firemen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A torrid time for firemen

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Fire engine driver Shivalinga is wilting under pain. He closes his eyes as the hospital personnel apply ointment over his chest. He finds it hard to swallow and throws up the orange juice he had forced himself to drink half an hour earlier.

Shivalinga is one of the two firemen who suffered burns in a major fire accident at a godown at Sarakki Gate, near Banashankari Temple, on Thursday. He has burnt both his hands. He is not in a position to speak.

“It’s very difficult to recover from burns,” said a distressed Chandra, the other fireman who has been injured in the incident. “At times we feel distressed. But we cannot do anything as we have opted for this profession. We have to bear with these burns,” he said. Chandra has received burns on his left hand. “I might be here for another four days,” he said.

Mr. Shivalinga and Mr. Chandra join the list of the firemen who have been injured while putting out fire thanks to not having any protective gear. On October 13, 17 firemen and a police sub-inspector were burnt badly when they were dousing flames in a lubricant outlet at Nagasandra Circle. A can of thinner exploded, injuring the firemen who had to fight the conflagration with just helmets, gumboots and prayers.

Selection

Despite the two incidents, the fire services department is yet to get professional protective gear. “The delay is more related to the time the companies are taking to respond,” said the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Fire Services) T. Suneel Kumar. He told The Hindu that till now two companies have responded to their requirement.

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