The summer season is playing its part with steep raise in mercury across Udaipur, where the city is witnessing number of fire incidents in various parts. Massive among them was the one which broke out at Neemach Mata Hill on 6^th April.

Fire on the hill was clearly visible from almost every part of city. It was somehow controlled by residents of Dewali locality when it reached near densely populated areas. Although large number of officials from Forest Department reached on the spot but were helpless in absence of proper fire fighting equipments.

The residential colony of Dewali has a population of around 15 thousand and is separated from forest land with a low height stone wall, which prevented fire to enter in the houses.

O.P Sharma, Deputy Forest Officer (DFO) reached on the spot along with squad of 15 personnel to get control over fire, while an additional staff of 10 people along with residents joined the operation.

According to O.P Sharma, “Such fire can be controlled easily with the help of fire fighting equipments which are missing with all the departments prominently Municipal Corporation.”

The much talked Snorkel Brigade was to be bought by Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC). The same was sanctioned in 2012 during a board meeting and tenders of Hydraulic ladder were opened in January 2013. But no such equipment is available with corporation.

According to Rajni Dangi, Mayor, UMC, “We had called tenders for hydraulic ladder soon after sanction of Brigade but did not receive required applications. The same tender was re-announced with increased rates which produced same result.”

“Now in absence of Hydraulic ladder, corporation could not complete further proceedings of snorkel brigade,” added Rajni Dangi.

Sources inform that Snorkel Brigade is specially designed for fighting fire in high elevated features, including multi storied buildings and mountains. It costs roughly around Rs.5 crores.