Sood conducts surprise check at Naraina Fire Station, says citizen safety paramount, no place for laxity

Delhi’s Home Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection at the Naraina Fire Station to have an on ground evaluation of the operational readiness, response time, current equipment infrastructure, and personnel deployment strategies.

The Minister closely reviewed multiple aspects of the station’s functions and took note of the equipment available with the fire fighters, and reviewed their working condition.
He assessed fire tenders, advanced rescue equipment, and communication logs to ensure immediate deployment protocols during distress calls.
Further, the minister also evaluated specialized contingency plans designed for high-risk seasonal incidents, and also observed during his visit that the fire station severely lacked modernization.

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Critical operational tools were missing, including the primary jurisdiction map, inventory list which was completely unavailable at the facility.
Sood also took note of the building of the fire station, observing that it was in a deplorable state, noting significant neglect in its upkeep.

He expressed strong dissatisfaction with the poor infrastructure, and stated unequivocally that the departments tasked with its maintenance must be held accountable.
The minister directed that immediate and strict administrative action be taken against the responsible officials for their negligence and failure to uphold safety and operational standards.

To address these issues, he held a direct interaction with fire station personnel to understand there fire fighting needs, roadblocks, equipment needs, and structural maintenance requirements of the facility.
Speaking on the inspection, he emphasized that the safety of citizens is paramount and that no laxity would be tolerated in emergency response capabilities.
He directed senior Delhi Fire Services officials to immediately address the gaps identified in technology, documentation, and infrastructure to ensure seamless operations across the national capital.

Sood also led a detailed inquiry into the station’s resource allocation, specifically reviewing the sanctioned strength versus the actual deployment of personnel and advanced firefighting equipment.

He scrutinized the current staffing levels, operational shifts, and the availability of specialized machinery to identify any critical deficits.