Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services (TSDRFS) Department - achievements

The department during the year 2020 attended 7,899 calls as per the data published in its site. 

Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department

With its dedicated efforts, it saved 1005 lives and saved property worth Rs 960 crores. 

During the last seven years, it saved 2,301 lives and property worth Rs 4,667 crore in more than 62,000 calls attended.

Majority of the fires took place in residences, factories, storage yards, etc. Two major reasons for the fires are electrical short circuit and careless smoking habits. 

As is a common feature, many times, the approach of emergency services to the fire site will be delayed due to traffic, encroachments, parking of vehicles on the roads,  etc. Many do not keep parking areas within the buildings. Instead, public areas are used for parking. The entrance steps and/or ramps to many buildings will be on the road, thereby reducing the road width. 

When buildings collapse due to fire or other reasons, because of above reasons, the available road will be filled with debris or parked vehicles prevent approach of fire services and this makes the fire fighting / rescue task very difficult. 

National Building Code gives the requirements clearly with sufficient offsets / margins. Similarly, while seeking approvals from local government authorities, these margins may be shown in the drawing, but when comes to subsequent construction, hardly any space is kept free.

But, who will suffer. These building owners and tenants only will suffer in an emergency due to restricted access. But, the department and police will receive flak for not reaching in time or not able to extinguish / contain the fire.

Inspite of all these limitations, still the above numbers speak the invaluable contribution. And, one should not forget the risk taken by them. While risking their lives, they struggle to protect the lives and property. One may comment that they take salary, but who will risk their life for salary. It is their selfless dedicated action in the service of the public, that needs appreciation.

Question of cost of safety!

Safety is costly, you know!

Any caution on safety is not costly. It may appear costly with respect to money, time, presumed slowness in reaching immediate targets, etc. But, if something is found to be missing w.r.t. ensuring safety and it needs resources to correct it doesn't mean it is added cost.
We have to thank our luck that nothing happened till such time and that somehow the deficiency or lapse was seen by somebody and got an opportunity to rectify it.
Nothing goes waste when we allocate resources meant for enforcing or improving workplace. Those who suffered due to incidents/accidents can tell the impact faced by them, till their memory retains.
Generally, people will forget the lessons and repeat the mistakes in same or different form.
Repetition of mistakes and resultant accidents make the interested parties sick of the way the organization is being run with shortsightedness.
Strict control only appears to work, but how long this can go on depends on mental stamina of the persons in controlling positions.
I think we are destined to suffer at different intervals due to failure to follow the procedures meant for safety of persons/property/environment/etc and when the loss is huge, then the whole organization suffers, may lead to closure.