Dayananda, the blogger-cop

From Bangalore Mirror

Three drown in tank

CHICKBALLAPUR: Three persons, including two boys, drowned in a tank in Chintamani taluk of Chickballapur district on Sunday afternoon. The police said the three had gone to the Nekkundi tank for a swim. They drowned while playing with a log that was floating in the tank. The dead have been identified as Firdose (22), Mastan (10) and Imam Pasha (13). Personnel from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services removed the bodies from the tank in the evening. The Chintamani police have registered a case.

Fire in godown

HUBLI: Rubber and chemicals worth nearly Rs. 2.5 lakh were destroyed in a fire at the depot of the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation here on Saturday. According to Fire Station Officer S.S. Channaveerashetti, the fire was noticed at around 11 a.m. at the godown of the depot on Gokul Road. The fire was brought under control after two hours. A short circuit is said to be the reason for the fire.

Boy drowns in well trying to catch fish

Staff Reporter
Bangalore: A 12-year-old boy who was trying to catch fish drowned in a well early on Sunday. The Basaveshwaranagar police gave the name of the victim as Sanjay (12), a sixth standard student and son of Raju, an autorickshaw driver.
They said that the incident occurred at Lakshminagar, where the victim lived. The police said that Sanjay had been trying to catch fish when he fell and drowned. The personnel from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and retrieved the body.

Mysore gets hi-tech rescue van

PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
Equipped: Fire and Emergency Services personnel with Regional Fire Officer C. Gurulingaiah (left) in front of a rescue van at the Saraswathipuram Fire Station in Mysore on Friday.

MYSORE: As a first step towards integrating various technologies for effective management of emergencies in Mysore, the Regional Office of the Department Fire and Emergency Services at Saraswathipuram here has procured an ultra-modern rescue van equipped with devices necessary to swiftly attend to disasters such as floods, building collapse, boat tragedies and train and road accidents. The vehicle arrived here on Friday when the city is gearing up to host the annual 10-day long Dasara festivities which attract tourists from far and wide. The van, cost of which is estimated at Rs. 1 crore, has been procured under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). Six such hi-tech vans have been procured for the State, including one for Mysore.

Regional Fire Officer C. Gurulingaiah told The Hindu that Karnataka was the first State to have such vans fitted with equipment that were essential to handle emergencies. Emergencies could be handled effectively with such a facility, he added. “The vehicle has been designed according to requirements of the Fire and Emergency Services Department and most of the equipment in it are imported,” he said Mr. Gurulingaiah said that the van was equipped with four hydraulic-driven portable generators used to operate devices such as iron and concrete cutters and high-speed saw machines. “The van has a device that helps in removing mangled metal of vehicles to facilitate rescue operations after accidents.” It has a lifeboat to attend to drowning incidents, thermal imaging cameras to see objects in dark areas and a pair of aluminium suit, a protective gear for fire personnel.

Apart from a 35-ft manually operated ladder fitted to the van, the vehicle has hydraulic searchlights with 360 degree rotating system.
“When power supply is snapped during emergencies such as building collapse, these lights will be useful for carrying out rescue operations,” he said. The van is also equipped with a specially manufactured generator, which runs when the vehicle’s engine is turned on, life jackets and ropes. Six persons can operate the devices in the van during rescue operations.

7 New Fire Stations for Bangalore

Bangalore to have seven more fire stations

Proud moment: Recipients of the Chief Minister’s Medal in Bangalore on Monday.
Bangalore: The State Government would set up seven new fire stations in the city shortly and they would start functioning from next year, Home Minister V.S. Acharya said here on Monday.
He was speaking after distributing the Chief Minister’s Medals to personnel of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KFES) and Home Guards and Civil Defence officers.The decision to open the new fire stations had been made as firemen were not able to reach the 12 existing fire stations in the city owing to traffic congestion, he said.The investiture ceremony was held at the R.A. Mundkur Fire and Emergency Service Academy on Bannerghatta Road and saw a gathering of over 300 people.

DA raised
Dr. Acharya also said that the travel and dearness allowance that firemen claimed during fire incidents would be raised from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50. Another highlight of the investiture ceremony was the launch of the Arogya Bhagya Yojane, which was introduced for the Karnataka State Police. This has now been extended to personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services Department as well Home Guards and civil defence personnel. After the general salute, march past and review order, the awardees were given their medals. The presentation of ranks to the Civil Defence Wardens also took place.
The KFES website was also re-launched by Dr. Acharya.