Nidhi.Bhardwaj@timesofindia.comTimes News NetworkLudhiana: Despite receiving advanced equipment under the Smart City Mission, Ludhiana’s fire brigade continues to battle flames and smoke in largely traditional ways.Firemen are often seen covering their faces with wet handkerchiefs or working without any protection, spending hours inside thick smoke, which poses a serious risk.The situation was starkly visible during Thursday’s textile unit blaze in Sherpur, where firemen remained on their toes for nearly 18 hours, fighting flames and smoke.Officials admitted that while the department has procured breathing apparatus (BA) masks, these are reserved for rare, life‑saving situations when entry into burning buildings is unavoidable. “It is not feasible to wear BA sets during every fire incident. We have gotten used to controlling fires with handkerchiefs.”The intensity of operations has increased with the summer heat. Fire officials said at least 10 fire incidents are reported daily and swift response is needed. “Each second becomes critical, so we cannot waste time preparing BA sets,” an officer said.On Thursday, a few firemen even entered the factory using wet blankets to withstand the heat. Many emerged with red and watering eyes, while onlookers outside struggled to bear the smoke for even a few minutes.Under the Smart City Mission, the department has received modern tools, including cutters, thermal imaging cameras, and life detectors. The cameras allow firefighters to see through smoke and check for trapped persons. These gadgets were deployed during Thursday’s operation, though officials remain cautious about their use, given the high cost and risk of damage.Assistant divisional fire officer Jaswinder Singh acknowledged the problem, noting that similar conditions exist elsewhere but Ludhiana’s fires often take longer to control.“There is no limit on how much stock industrial units can keep inside, and most do not adopt essential fire safety measures,” he said.Smart City funds, amounting to Rs 3.28 crore, enabled the purchase of four fabricated Tata Yodha fire tenders, three life detectors for disaster rescue, 10 battery‑operated combi tools, five portable inflatable emergency lights, five thermal imaging cameras, and five aluminium firefighting suits in 2021. Despite these upgrades, the ground reality remains unchanged: firemen continue to rely on improvised methods, risking their health as they spend long hours in smoke‑filled environments.
