Noida/Ghaziabad: With Noida and Better Noida housing over 4,000 high-rise buildings, in addition to residential sectors and villages, the area’s fireplace security infrastructure seems to be underneath important pressure, with the hearth division geared up with simply 9 fireplace stations and 28 fireplace engines.
The scenario is considerably related in Ghaziabad, with over 400 high-rises, because it has 5 fireplace stations. In whole, it at the moment has 22 fireplace engines—starting from small to giant—towards a requirement of 30.
“In keeping with worldwide fireplace security norms, there ought to be a hearth station each 5 kilometres, and a hearth tender, accompanied by six firefighters, together with the motive force, ought to attain the spot inside three minutes. Nonetheless, contemplating the present gear standing and variety of fireplace stations in Noida, it’s practically not possible to reply throughout the specified time in emergency conditions,” SK Dheri, retired chief fireplace officer of the Delhi Hearth Division, advised PR.
Dheri stated the Uttar Pradesh fireplace division falls underneath the state police, and like Delhi, it ought to be made an unbiased physique.
“The town—whether or not it’s Ghaziabad, Noida, or some other—ought to have its personal unbiased and ample firefighting gear with out counting on close by cities. If a metropolis is supplying its firefighting gear to a different metropolis, it dangers not having sufficient sources accessible for its personal emergencies,” he stated.
On Wednesday, a hearth at Gaur Inexperienced Avenue, a residential complicated with 447 flats, left at the least eight flats utterly gutted. Residents alleged that the primary responders struggled to achieve the higher flooring, with hosepipes failing to hold water excessive sufficient and no fast availability of lengthy ladders or elevated platforms.
Though authorities have permitted three further fireplace stations—two close to the upcoming Noida Worldwide Airport in Jewar (one for the airport and one other for close by localities) and one in Dadri—the general capability nonetheless appears inadequate to satisfy the rising demand and guarantee well timed emergency response throughout the district.
In keeping with a hearth division official, the district at the moment has 9 fireplace stations: 5 in Noida (Sector 2, Section 1, Section 2, Expressway, and Sector 58) and 4 in Better Noida (Surajpur, Ecotech 1, Ecotech 3, and Information Park).
Whereas a hearth engine has been stationed in Dadri to cowl surrounding areas, the official stated that demand continues to outpace accessible sources, including that areas resembling Better Noida West and the Yamuna Expressway require extra fireplace stations.
The district has 28 fireplace engines of various capacities—excessive, medium, and low. As well as, there are 4 hydraulic platforms (with a most attain of 42 metres) and 4 firefighting motorbikes.
“The division is planning to accumulate a 112-metre hydraulic platform to higher sort out fires in high-rise buildings. A 72-metre hydraulic crane can be anticipated to reach in Noida throughout the subsequent two months,” stated chief fireplace officer Pradeep Chaubey.
Nonetheless, gear shortages stay a priority. “The requirement for Gautam Budh Nagar is 54 fireplace engines, however we at the moment have solely 28,” stated an official, requesting anonymity. “Equally, there are solely 160 firefighters deployed throughout the district, towards the minimal requirement of 300.”
The district recorded a complete of 150 fireplace incidents to this point this yr, with 32 circumstances every in January and February, 37 in March, and 59 in April.
“To strengthen fireplace security infrastructure, the Noida and Better Noida authorities have sanctioned ₹308 crore for enhancing fire-fighting capabilities throughout the district,” Chaubey stated.
In the meantime, an official stated procurement is underway for taller hydraulic machines, firefighting foam and different gear to sort out fireplace incidents in high-rises and factories in Gautam Budh Nagar.
“We now have written to the state authorities, which has permitted the required funds. Now the procurement is in course of. We now have demanded a hydraulic machine able to reaching as much as 100 metres in top and firefighting foam, as fires in factories are troublesome to douse with water. We hope all gear might be procured in a month or two,” Laxmi Singh, police commissioner of Gautam Budh Nagar, advised PR.
The official additionally stated the requirement for a helicopter has been raised, as some buildings are so tall {that a} 104-metre hydraulic machine is insufficient.
In Noida, the district fireplace division has simply 4 hydraulic machines with a most top of 42 meters that may attain as much as the 14th flooring.
The hearth division has sought 72, 92 and 104-meter hydraulic platforms, which can assist douse fireplace as much as 40-floor buildings.
A constructing with over 4 flooring or 15 meters in top is taken into account a high-rise. In keeping with officers, there are practically 4,000 high-rises in Noida, together with Supernova in Sector 94, the tallest mixed-use constructing, with 80 tales, and a top of 300 mtrs.
It’s adopted by an 80-floor mixed-use tower (Spira) in Sector 94, a 255-metre-tall and 60-floor residential tower named North Eye in Sector 74.
“A helicopter is a should in view of the taller buildings and blocked and slender roads,” stated Atul Gupta, president of Uttar Pradesh structure affiliation’s Noida chapter.
The hearth division has additionally launched inspection drives to evaluate fireplace security compliance in high-rise buildings. “If deficiencies are discovered, we subject notices, penalise them and file complaints. Nonetheless, enforcement stays difficult as many builders fail to adjust to security norms. We plan to quickly launch an inventory of non-compliant builders,” stated an official.
Ghaziabad chief fireplace officer, Rahul Pal, stated the method to obtain two hydraulic platforms is underway. “At current, we now have one 42-metre hydraulic platform within the district, and the method is underway to accumulate two extra 101-metre-high platforms. Moreover, efforts are ongoing to construct extra fireplace stations and recruit extra firefighters,” he stated.
Expressing concern, KK Jain, secretary basic of the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA), stated, “The hearth division have to be totally geared up to deal with emergencies. With so many high-rise buildings, even a minor incident can flip lethal if not managed in time.”
