Only One Functional Fire Tender In MP's Susner; Another One Lying Defunct For Decade

Susner (Madhya Pradesh): Susner is relying on just one fire tender to deal with fire emergencies in the town. The vehicle is two decades old and unable to reach many areas, especially narrow streets and crowded areas.

The crisis becomes severe, especially during the summer months, as soaring temperatures lead to an increase in fire incidents.

With a capacity of 5,000 litres, this vehicle often remains parked outside affected areas, forcing firefighters to rely on hoses, which wastes both time and water.

The town has another fire tender, but it needs repairs that the council has been unable to do for the last decade. The failure of the municipal council to repair the other fire tender shows administrative indifference.

Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) OP Nagar said that he has submitted a proposal to the government for a new fire engine, citing inadequate resources for the area.

"Currently, the city has only one operational fire engine with a capacity of 5,000 litres, while a second vehicle is completely out of service." Nagar acknowledged that during major fires, they call for assistance from neighbouring towns, which delays response times and exacerbates damage. He added that no approval for the new fire engine has been received yet.