Port Blair, Nov. 14: The Andaman Mopla Service Organisation (AMSO) has made an appeal to the Director General of Police to augment human and other required resources in the A&N Fire Department.

In a letter to the Director General of Police, AMSO General Secretary, Shri Abdul Siddique invited the attention of the DGP to the recent major fire incidents that occurred in the Capital city - Port Blair - at two locations, i.e. Phoenix Bay and Dairy Farm in the late evening hours on 12.11.2023.

Both the incidents have had an alarming impact among the Islanders as the magnitude of the fire mishap, blast of cylinders, and raging flame spreading to other nearby areas were very frightening

Although, the fire personnel put their best efforts to combat the fire, it was felt that more number of fire personnel and little more key resources could have helped their efforts in dousing the fire within short time.

Port Blair city is becoming one of the thickly populated cities, and hence, a robust fire safety plan for the city is of utmost necessity. At times, it has been seen that safe and clear accessibility to the actual site is a major challenge, said Siddique.

He further invited the attention of the DGP by mentioning that it is learnt that the Fire Department is presently functioning with small manpower. It has come to our notice that no recruitment process has been done to fill the vacant posts for the last 15-20 years. Additionally, it has also been felt that the Fire Department must be equipped with area specific resources that can drill down to any locations within the city to contain such incidents in a limited scope of time, said the General Secretary.

The General Secretary AMSO requested to examine the issue and take necessary preventive steps, at the same time, work to strengthen the Fire Department so that it is able to function and practice to its entire potential.