NEW DELHI, June 13: A Rs 5.5 crore hydraulic ladder purchased some nine months ago to fight fire in multi-storied buildings, remained only a spectator when fire actually broke out in a government complex in Bhopal.
While a blaze engulfed the seven-storey Satpura Bhawan in Bhopal on Monday destroying government files and documents, the advanced hydraulic ladder just stayed parked only about 40 metres away.
Bought with much fanfare about nine months ago to help fight fires in buildings up to 18 storeys high, the lack of clearance from the Regional Transport Office and non-availability of qualified personnel ensured that it could play no role in fighting one of the biggest fires in Bhopal in recent years, said senior fire department officials. The Army and Indian Air force had to get involved, and the fire was finally brought under control 14 hours after it broke out.
The excuse given for its inaction was unplanned parking lot which blocked way for any big vehicle to pass. The Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, “There was no space for the hydraulic machine to pass. A parking area has been built there, blocking the way. Just this morning, Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan has ordered that arrangements must be made to ensure enough space in big buildings (for fire-fighting vehicles to enter).”
But besides the blocking of the pathway by the parking slot, there also was the problem of trained personnel. Four to five people had been trained to operate the new hydraulic ladder but, sources said, none of them were available when the fire broke out on Monday. Before the hydraulic ladder was purchased, the fire brigade was using step ladders and machines which only had a reach of three-four storeys, and even after spending Rs 5.5 crores, the same ladders were used in Monday’s operation.
The fire started around 4 pm from Satpura Bhawan’s third floor, housing the regional office of the Tribal Welfare Department. It spread quickly to three upper floors. As the fire came in contact with air conditioners and some gas cylinders, there were multiple blasts. Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayan Chari Mishra said the cause of the fire appears to be a short circuit, but a team has been formed to investigate it.
(Manas Dasgupta)