UDUPI: The fire and emergency services department is all geared up to face the monsoon fury in Udupi district. Though heavy rains had lashed the district last week, heavy rains expected in days to come has made the fire department personnel to prepare and wait in combat mode.
The department has procured two inflatable boats and two outboard motor (OBM) boats, besides imparting the necessary training to its personnel, according to Vasanth Kumar H M, Udupi district fire officer.
"We are well-equipped now. Preparations are being completed to tackle the challenges in the flood-prone areas in Udupi as well as the low-lying areas'' he said. '
'We also have six portable water pumps. These will be useful to pump water accumulated inside houses which are in the low lying areas'' he added.
Of them, two are placed in Udupi, two in Karkala, one in Kundapur and one in Malpe. There are 150 life jackets (personal flotation device) in the four fire stations that are in Udupi district. There are seven ASKA lights, 50 lifebuoys and other equipment have been made available to Fire Department personnel. This way, comprehensive emergency preparedness and disaster management plan are in place, officials informed.
The ASKA light reaches 100 feet deep in the water and this is used during night operation to trace the drowning persons. The Aerial Ladder Platform is being stationed in Mangaluru, however, in case of emergency; there is an option for the Udupi district fire officer to request for it to get it for Udupi.
Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis, under the provision of natural calamity relief fund, has provided the fund to purchase six Petrol Driven Chainsaw and 50 rain coats for fire personnel to combat monsoon fury. Along with that, rechargeable torches, hand gloves, electrical shock proof gloves have been purchased. There are 80 staffs in four fire stations in Udupi district, officials informed.