Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Apr 14: Fire and Emergency Services today observed Fire Services Day at all the District Headquarters across the State to pay tributes to those brave firemen who sacrificed their lives while safeguarding life and property of general public. The Fire Services Day also marks the beginning of Fire Service Week, which is observed to make public aware regarding fire prevention and precautionary measures.
In Kashmir valley, the main function was held at Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters at Batamaloo, Srinagar where Dr G A Bhat, Director General Fire and Emergency Services was the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhat elaborated the importance of Fire Service Week and laid stress for educating the general masses especially youth and school children regarding fire prevention and fire protection keeping in view the present day population growth, rapid urbanization and unplanned mushrooming of residential and commercial areas.
He said that Fire and Emergency Services, one of the premier agencies and first and most important responders, has now to shoulder the additional responsibilities of search and rescue in various disasters like earthquakes and flashfloods in addition to fire fighting.
While portraying the functioning of the department, Dr Bhat informed that the department has been equipped with state-of-art and sophisticated appliances and equipment which can be used for rescue and fire fighting. He informed that the Rail and Road tunnels like Nashri-Chenani Tunnel and Banihal-Qazigund Rail tunnel have added challenges to the Service Personnel for which they have to utilize professional skills and latest techniques and trainings.
Two minutes silence was observed on the occasion to pay tributes to the gallant firemen who laid their lives for the noble cause and wreaths were laid on the Martyr’s Memorial by DG, Dr G A Bhat, R T Dubey, Joint Director Fire & Emergency Services Kashmir Range, M A Dar, Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services Command Srinagar.
At Jammu, the Fire Services Day was observed at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters at Gandhi Nagar where Director R S Sodhi was the chief guest. Wreaths were laid on the memorial on the occasion by senior Officers including R K Hak, Joint Director, Mohd Ayoub Sheik, Accounts Officer and C K Peshin, Deputy Director.
While speaking on the occasion, Mr Sodhi laid stress on public awareness regarding fire prevention measures and informed that a weeklong mass public awareness programme has been launched throughout the State which includes symposiums, lectures, debates, demonstrations.
He said that latest fire fighting techniques and the modern infrastructure have added a boost to the services.
At Udhampur, wreaths were laid at the martyrs memorial by P K Bhat, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services Command Udhampur and other officers and personnel of the Fire and Emergency Station Udhampur.
A fire tender fixed with posters and banners was also made to move through the roads of Udhampur town and general masses were made aware of fire preventive measures. Similar commemoration parades/wreath laying ceremonies were also organized at fire and Emergency Station Reasi, Katra, Chenani and Ramnagar.
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