Login   /  Register

There are over 20 installations of the power corporation in city, but, all are sans firefighting infra. Without equipment, need to train staff doesn’t arise!

Updated At: May 24, 2022 10:35 AM (IST)

An unsafe narrow passage in the first-storey.

Severe heatwave sweeping across North India is causing repeated fire incidents and the city is no exception. No day passes without reporting of a fire incident. Yet, in the backdrop of this scenario, PSPCL offices, especially dealing with the public, neither have firefighting equipment nor trained staff to handle fire accidents.

There are over 20 installations, big or small, of the power corporation in the city. However, all of these are without firefighting equipment. Without equipment, the need to train the staff does not arise.

Harpinder Singh Walia, a resident of New Golden Avenue, said: “Fire tenders rushing down the roads with their sirens is a routine.” Even then, a visit to the offices of PSPCL revealed that they were least prepared to handle any kind of eventuality. Its office situated outside the Hall Gate is among the biggest. It has got a solitary gate that serves both as the entrance and exit points. There are some rooms that have files and other important documents stacked, and concrete railings on the first floor are unsafe and narrow. In case of an emergency, it could prove fatal. The premises has a road behind the building that could offer an emergency exit. Burnt marks are visible on the wall of a room which is a grim reminder to brace up.

Similarly, PSPCL offices on the Sultanwind road, Chattiwind Gate, Mall Mandi and others do not possess fire-extinguishing paraphernalia.

taken to fill both men and material gaps. Foolproof arrangements are in place to check any fire breakout at the power grids, which are vulnerable to fire incidents. Advanced sprays such as foam besides conventional methods are in place to face any eventuality. —Balkrishan, Chief Engineer, PSPCL (Border Zone)

Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Colony, said: “The PSPCL office on the Sultanwind road does not have even basic fire extinguishers such as sand buckets. With the rise in fire incidents, the workload of the PSPCL increases manifold. The demand for power is at its highest and the equipment of the PSPCL is stretched to its limit. In this scenario, PSPCL offices must be equipped to check any eventuality. Citing the instance of safety measures initiated in the national capital, the Department of Delhi Fire Services announced to initiate fire audit in multi-storied buildings. Similar measures are required here as well to mitigate and even avoid fire incidents.

Balkrishan, Chief Engineer of the PSPCL (Border Zone), accepted that there was lack of fire-fighting equipment and trained staff to handle these in its offices serving the public. “Measures will be taken up to fill both men and material gaps,” he said.

Meanwhile, he categorically stated that foolproof arrangements were in place to check any fire breakout at its power grids, which are vulnerable to fire incidents. Advanced sprays such as foam besides conventional methods were in place to face any eventuality. The PSPCL has power grids here at Mall Mandi, Hall Gate, GT Road, Gheo Mandi, Sultanwind, Guru Nanak Dev University, OCM, Islamabad and Kot Mit Singh.

What do you think? (Share your feedback)

Punjab withdraws security of 424 VIPs

These include former MLAs and former police officers

Monsoon expected to reach Kerala in 2-3 days, says IMD

Enhance Afghan capability to counter terrorist groups: NSA Ajit Doval

22 mass shootings, 374 dead: Here's where the guns came from

Seniority in postings went for toss in Punjab during Vijay Singla's 2 month stint as Health Minister

Entry-level officer made Civil Surgeon

DSR: Farm union opposes online registration norm to get Rs 1,500

Five months on, Beas cops fail to trace 12-yr-old

SGPC: No plans to phase out harnonium from Gurmat Kirtan as yet at Golden Temple

Digging case: Amritsar MC starts demolishing hotel's dilapidated portion

Kapurthala museum artefacts to be shifted to War Memorial in Amritsar

Federation seeks appointment of chairman

Teachers demand transparent transfer policy

Pakistan national to visit ancestral village in Bathinda after 75 years

Setback for Mansa residents; Dr Vijay Singla was first Cabinet minister from district

Panchkula ASI among three held for extortion; escapes

Demolition drive on Chandigarh's periphery: Realtor 'stings' forest officials

Chandigarh MC House nod for upkeep of parks by private players

Newspaper vendor's death: Thar driver in Chandigarh Police net

Stones thrown on Shatabdi Express coming from Delhi to Chandigarh

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram appears before CBI again

Delhi-based writer Geetanjali Shree wins International Booker Prize for Hindi novel 'Tomb of Sand'

Inspired by 'Fast and Furious' movie, 3 men steal over 40 luxury cars in Delhi; arrested

Fire at 2 hospitals in Delhi, no casualty reported

Learning graph: Punjab outdoes Delhi schools

Novel way to defeat addiction in 16 drug-hit villages of Kapurthala

'Jal da rakha, kal da rakha' mission to give push to DSR

Kapurthala museum artefacts to be shifted to War Memorial in Amritsar

Woman gives birth on bus near Phagwara

Ahead of monsoon, Jalandhar villagers want Sutlej banks to be fortified; seek bolstering Phillaur-Darewal stretch

Woman, two kids killed as container topples over car

Ludhiana couple's killers had consumed 'chitta' to garner courage, say police

Shopkeeper, snatcher held with 39 cell phones

PLA team reaches civic body offices to attach Commissioner's car, furniture

SE gets show-cause notice for not submitting report

Farmers block Dhareri Jattan toll plaza

MC cracks whip on illegal constructions

DLSA holds medical camp at Central Jail

Varsity sells books at half price, pvt players cash in on it

Amritsar beat Mohali in HR Saggi cricket

The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.

The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.

The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).

Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia

Designed and Developed by: Grazitti Interactive