They're accustomed to dealing with fire. Now, they'll have to show their skills in water

To meet the acute shortage of lifeguards on city beaches, the BMC has decided to deploy firemen at seashores to saveu00a0 lives

They're accustomed to dealing with fire. Now, they'll have to show their skills in water. Firemen with good swimming skills will be posted on the beaches to prevent untoward incidents without being offered any special incentives.

The fire brigade already has 120 lifeguards for the monsoon crisis. "We plan to select lifeguards for the beach rescue operations. These firemen will have additional responsibility. They will be placed accordingly. Apart from this, the BMC used to appoint lifeguards for beaches on contract basis of six months. Presently, the contract period has expired. We will soon have tenders for the same," added Tatkare.

The BMC had 34 lifeguards at five beaches --u00a0Aksa, Gorai, Juhu, Madh and Marve -- in the city. There will be a pair of lifeguards every two kilometres.

To strengthen the security at beaches, the body will have trained lifeguards at every beach with watchtowers, and essential equipment such as binoculars, life-saving kits, communication systems, lifeboats and rescue boats. Besides, a board displaying a location map, dangerous areas, timings of high tide and low tide will be put up and first-aid equipment will be provided.

Rescue operations

The lifeguard for beaches was earlier part of the BMC's health department. However, according to sources, Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya realised that the responsibility of lifeguards should be given to the fire brigade instead of health department, as "the fire brigade deals with rescue operations".

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, said, "The fire brigade has more knowledge about it. We will also get trained swimmers."

182
Number of firemen recruited recently

34
Number of lifeguards whose contracts have expired

120
Number of lifeguards employedu00a0 for monsoon disaster management

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