Bilal Rehmani

Bandipora, Nov 15 (KNS): A shortage of drivers in the Fire and Emergency Services Department in Bandipora has raised concerns over emergency preparedness, with only three drivers reportedly available for eight vehicles in the district.

According to information available with Kashmir News Service (KNS), the department has eight fire tenders and other vehicles but only three drivers to operate them, raising questions about its ability to deploy multiple vehicles during fire incidents and other emergencies.

Sources said the department has a total staff strength of 10 employees, including three drivers. Of these, one driver is reportedly assigned to routine duty, while another employee remains deployed at the Deputy Commissioner's Office.

The shortage has raised concerns about how the department would respond if fire incidents occurred simultaneously at different locations in the district.

With only three drivers on its rolls, the department may face difficulties in operating all available vehicles when required, particularly during major fires or natural disasters.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Local residents said the shortage of manpower in an essential emergency service could affect response times and put lives and property at risk.

They questioned how a district with eight fire service vehicles could ensure an effective emergency response when the number of drivers was considerably lower than the available fleet.

Residents said the issue required immediate attention from the higher authorities, particularly the senior management of the Fire and Emergency Services Department.

They urged the department to deploy additional drivers and review the existing manpower arrangements to ensure that fire tenders remain available for emergency operations.

The residents also called for adequate staffing to deal with situations involving multiple fire incidents or other emergencies requiring the simultaneous deployment of vehicles.

They said timely intervention was necessary to prevent manpower shortages from affecting the department's ability to respond to emergencies across the district. (KNS)