Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Apr 27: Following the fire accident on Sunday evening, MLA Yashpal Suvarna visited the site on Monday along with CMC commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi and former president Prabhakar Poojary to assess the damage and interact with affected shop owners.
Speaking to the media, Suvarna stated that discussions have been initiated with government authorities regarding compensation for those who suffered losses. He acknowledged that while Udupi has seen significant development, infrastructural gaps remain in emergency response services.
Recalling a previous fire in Malpe, Suvarna noted that persistent efforts led to a fire station at the harbour. However, he expressed concern over the outdated condition of existing fire service vehicles, which are over 15 years old, leading to delayed responses.
“In the recent incident, the fire service machinery in Udupi failed to function efficiently due to its age. It takes nearly half an hour to refill, which hampered firefighting efforts,” he said, admitting to departmental shortcomings.
The MLA informed that proposals have been submitted for new fire stations in Brahmavar and Manipal, with work already commencing in Manipal. He also stated that the need for a full-fledged, modern fire station in Udupi has been brought to the notice of Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara.
Highlighting the plight of small business owners, Suvarna said that such accidents severely impact those who depend on shops for their livelihood. He assured that a detailed report on the damages will be obtained from the Tahsildar and submitted to the state government to facilitate relief measures.
Emphasizing preventive steps, the MLA added that fire safety awareness programs will be conducted for shop owners. He urged them to install fire safety equipment and undergo basic training to handle emergencies effectively.