Only one CDGK rescue boat for 16m people

Only one CDGK rescue boat for 16m people
Only one imported inflatable rescue rubber boat of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) Fire Brigade is in working condition, while four boats have gone completely out of order due to improper maintenance, The News has learnt.In 2006, five rubber boats had been imported from Spain at a cost of Rs5 million, sources said. These boats had a capacity to carry six persons, including an engine driver, two rescuers and three persons that need to be rescued. Sources explained that four of these boats were handed over to the Emergency Response Centre (ERC) at Hawkesbay while one boat was given to the Central Fire Station for rescue purposes. The ERC is a subordinate centre of the Fire Brigade, which has lifeguards to protect those who wish to swim in the sea during the summer season.The basic aim of importing these boats was to rescue those caught in untoward incidents in the sea. The authorities concerned, however, also used these boats as part of their rescue operations in sewerage drains during the monsoons as well. Sources said that four of these boats are not in any condition to be used during any sort of rescue operation, while the only boat that is workable condition cannot be deemed enough to cater to a population of around 16 million.Sources told The News that these boats were imported along with their repair kits. As these boats were regularly used, the stock of the repair kits ended somewhere in 2007, sources said. Nine repairing kits repairing kits were subsequently imported, and handed over to the centre by the end of 2007. However, sources continued, these repairing kits could not be used for almost two years, while the glue in some of repairing kits has expired.Two ERC boats were severely damaged during this time, while another two were modestly damaged, sources claimed. Sources said that there are a number of organisations in the city which have experts to deal with repairing of rubber boats, but they have not been approached for this purpose.Sources said that in July 2009, one ERC boat had minor damages but it was still used in rescue operation in Malir River during heavy downpours that year. This boat was kept at Manzoor Colony Fire Station so that it could be used in further rescue operations if needed. However, children of the area used it as jumping pad, which badly damaged the boat and its ends opened up. On the other hand, sources said, the boat of Central Fire Station was sent to Sehwan on the occasion of the Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalander last year. Sources said that due to “almost unbearable heat,” the joints of this boat also went out of order and now, it has become ‘non-repairable’.Sources said that the deputed 54 lifeguards at ERC now have just one boat at their disposal. It is worth remembering that between 30 and 40 people drown in the sea every year due to lack of resources to handle rescue operations.