Kanjirappally: The fire and rescue services station at Kanjirappally is reeling under shortage of equipment. The fire station has only one mobile tanker unit and a mini water mist. As a result, proper management of disasters occurring in hilly areas of the district becomes impossible.

The station mainly lacks gear needed to carry out rescue missions in water. As a result, when two youths were recently carried away by strong currents in the Manimala river at Mundakkayam, the fire and rescue personnel had to remain mute witnesses.

During similar disasters, personnel often risk their own lives to conduct search in the river waters. When the body of one among the two youths was later reported to be floating in the river, fire and rescue personnel had to seek the help of a private boat to bring the body ashore.

Scuba diving kit

Kanjirappally has only one Scuba (Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving kit. Scuba kit helps rescuers remain underwater for a long period for carrying out search. It also includes an oxygen cylinder, mask and underwater torch. However, the kit at Kanjirappally lacks a torch. The oxygen cylinder can be refilled only at Kottayam.

Rules stipulate that scuba diving should be done by a team of two trained divers. This is to ensure that in case one diver faces an accident during a mission, the other can come to his help. However, the Kanjirappally unit has only a single kit and one trained personnel.

Dinghy

Lack of a dinghy fitted with an engine which is ideal for carrying out rescue missions in water bodies is also acutely felt in Kanjirappally. When scuba divers conduct search in the deep waters, it is the dinghy that can support them, especially in case of any unexpected hurdles.

When the need for the dinghy arises in Kanjirappally, it is now brought from Kottayam. During the recent incident involving the two youths in Manimala river, the dinghy was arranged from Kothamangalam.

Mobile tank unit

It is a tanker truck comprising a water tank having 4,500 litre capacity, ladder, rope, net, hydraulic cutters, saw to fell trees and related equipment. Kanjirappally fire station has only one such unit and the officers here often find it impossible to respond to all calls for rescue and disaster management.

When major fires and other incidents are reported, mobile tank units are summoned from other fire stations. The local residents have demanded that Kanjirappally should be allotted another tank unit on an urgent basis.

Mini water mist

A tank that can hold 400 litres water and 50 litres of foam on a vehicle comprises the mini water mist. It is used to fight fires in areas which are inaccessible to mobile tanker units. The water mist can negotiate steep and narrow paths, but the limited capacity makes it ineffective during major fires.

Recently, when the processing shed of a rubber plantation in Palambra caught fire, the mobile tanker unit was deployed in Erumeli for clearing the road of a land slip.

The mini water mist rushed to fight the fire in the rubber estate, but its water was inadequate. Later, when the tanker unit reached the spot, the shed had almost entirely been gutted.

Pneumatic bag, hydraulic jack

Other major equipment that Kanjirappally station lacks include pneumatic bag and hydraulic jack which are used during rescue in road accidents and building collapse.

Pneumatic bag is inserted into spaces under collapsed buildings and vehicles involved in mishaps and inflated. This raises fallen building material or vehicles, enabling people trapped inside to come out safely.