After Palam fire, Delhi Fire Services to procure new high-reach rescue ladders
Five months after a deadly fire in southwest Delhi's Palam exposed critical gaps in high-rise rescue operations, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) is set to place orders for new high-reach rescue ladders. Officials said the bids for 90-metre, 70-metre and 40-metre variants have been finalised, and the order will be placed before August 31. Delivery is expected within 14 to 16 months.
The move follows the March 18 fire in a four-storey residential building where nine members of a family, including three children and a 70-year-old woman, lost their lives. The blaze broke out early in the morning and spread rapidly. Taking suo motu cognisance, the National Human Rights Commission noted that the fire brigade's hydraulic crane had reportedly developed a technical snag, delaying rescue.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident has identified several shortcomings in the response. According to findings submitted by the District Magistrate (South West) to the Home department last month, the Bronto Skylift could not be positioned promptly because its boom became entangled in low-hanging cables and banners in the narrow lane. Firefighters had to use a long non-conductive rescue rod to lift the wires and clear a path, delaying deployment.
With no backup high-reach equipment immediately available, firefighters had to rely on manual ladders. However, these ladders could not reach the third-floor balcony where people were trapped, an official familiar with the matter said.
The inquiry also flagged a training gap. Firefighters assigned to operate the Bronto Skylift had not received formal training from the authorised dealer since the machine was procured in 2006. The department has maintained that firefighters are trained when new machinery is introduced, and when equipment is shifted to another station, personnel there are trained by colleagues familiar with its operation. However, the inquiry highlighted the need for regular, equipment-specific training. Officials said DFS conducts reviews after major fires to assess gaps, but there is no structured refresher-training programme for every firefighter throughout their career.
The proposed procurement is part of broader efforts to strengthen the DFS's emergency response capacity. The department is also working on recruiting contractual firefighters to address manpower shortages while regular recruitment is undertaken. Currently, DFS has around 3,500 personnel, including about 2,600 firefighters, and operates around 250 vehicles and specialised equipment. The official website lists a sanctioned strength of 3,623 personnel, including 3,312 operational staff.
The Union Home Ministry has approved an expansion of the DFS's sanctioned strength by more than 10,000 posts, taking it to nearly 13,500. This is expected to address the shortage of operational personnel. The department has also added 24 quick response vehicles to improve response times and enable smaller teams to reach congested areas more quickly.
Additionally, the empanelment of third-party auditors has begun, with 18 to 20 auditors having applied for registration so far, an official said. These steps aim to prevent the kind of delays seen during the Palam tragedy and ensure better preparedness for future emergencies.
