Kerala Fire Force's scuba wing gasps for breath

Kochi: The Kerala Fire and Rescue Force is literally gasping for breath in the district when it comes to underwater operations due to lack of modern equipment and most of its existing scuba gears turning out to be not fit for operation due to lack of maintenance. “The wing, mandated with underwater rescue operations, was started in 2012 and then 50 scuba (Self Contained Under Water Breathing Apparatus) gears were distributed across the stations in the state. However, they were being used without renewing the mandatory Annual Mintenance Contract (AMC) and at present only two functional scuba diving kits are available with the department to cover the entire district --  at Thodupuzha station,” sources said.

Upon a mishap happening in the city, it takes minimum two hours to get the apparatus and launch the rescue works. “This makes the fire stations ill equipped to act when persons go missing in rivers or other water bodies or upon a mishap. Without the Scuba gear, even trained personnel could go only upto 15 feet deep. While a Scuba apparatus will help the personnel search in the bottom of the water bodies up to 40 minutes with one (oxygen) cylinder,” they said.

Interestingly, it was the state which took a lead in setting up a dedicated Scuba wing. Currently nearly 250 personnel have undergone training in deep water rescue operations.   The Fire Force department in neighbouring Tamil Nadu has approached the Kerala Fire and Rescue Force to provide training to its personnel. “Other states have already made available modern scubas worth over Rs eight lakh for their personnel. Steps should be taken to procure modern apparatus,” they said.