Chennai: Troop carrier trucks for fire department

Chennai: Two years ago, had someone mentioned a troop carrier truck, widely used in the army, as a necessity for the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS), the firemen would’ve scoffed at the idea.

During December 2015 deluge, the fire department realised their shortcomings. In a proposal, the fire department requested the state government to provide them with seven ‘specially designed vehicles for rescue operations during inundation’ at a cost of '1.27 crore. The fire department, for the first time found the necessity for a truck to ferry stranded people in flooded areas.

The proposal was approved by the state planning commission for five trucks. “We have got three troop carrier type vehicles as of now. They have high ground clearance and would be useful to drive through inundated areas without breakdown.”

“The primary purpose is to ferry rescued people in flooded areas from their location to a safe place. We can also carry our inflatable boats in them,” M. Shahul Hameed, joint director, TNFRS told DC.

These trucks also come with vertical exhaust silencers, hence the problem of water entering them like in normal vehicles is also negated, an official noted.While one of the trucks has been stationed at Ambattur Fire Station , the other two have been sent to the regional centres, fire officials said.

Recalling the issues faced by them during the deluge, a fireman noted, “People refused to come out of their homes. They ask us for food, water, blankets, candles, but simply refuse to come on our boats.”  Fire personnel noted that people were afraid to wade through chest deep water or even get onto boats. Coming to think of it, the trucks would have actually been of great use to us then, the fireman said.