Mass awareness needed to check fire incidents in Gangtok

Sikkim fire department has intensified its awareness campaign among the people about the fire safety measures in the wake of two major fire incidents in the state capital in the past two weeks.
"If the level of awareness among the masses and coordination between all agencies concerned does not improve, things will not improve, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Fire Department, Prakash Rai said today.
There are six major slums in the state capital and inaccessibility to reach all these areas in the event of a fire make things worse, he said.
"In some parts of Gangtok, there are around 16 families living in 20 rooms in a single and cramped building," he said to illustrate that access and maneuverability are not hindered only on the roads but also on location.

Deputy Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Shakti Singh said they had urged the Development Commissioner for establishment of more fire sub-stations in and around Gangtok.
Besides, it was also urgent to increase the number of reserve water tanks and provisions for water hydrants in some identified areas, he said.