After Akshardham tragedy, Delhi traffic cops teach fire safety drills to motorists

On Tuesday, the traffic police personnel were quite busy at the ITO intersection in Central Delhi. But it was not fining erring drivers or directing traffic that kept them on their toes, rather they were busy imparting fire safety in vehicles lessons to motorists.

On Tuesday, the traffic police personnel were quite busy at the ITO intersection in Central Delhi. But it was not fining erring drivers or directing traffic that kept them on their toes, rather they were busy imparting fire safety in vehicles lessons to motorists.

On Sunday, a fire incident in a car had claimed the lives of a 34-year-old woman and her two daughters near the Akshardham flyover in east Delhi.(Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

On Sunday, a fire incident in a car had claimed the lives of a 34-year-old woman and her two daughters near the Akshardham flyover in east Delhi, and the incident has prompted the Delhi traffic police to start an awareness drive advising drivers to install fire extinguishers in cars.

The campaign that started from ITO intersection will be carried out at all the major junctions across the national capital in the coming days, special commissioner of police (traffic) Taj Hassan said.

“Our road safety team will continue this drive to educate drivers, especially of vehicles that operate on CNG, to install fire extinguishers to prevent a major fire tragedy,” Hassan said.

He said awareness teams have been especially instructed to speak with drivers of school vans and other private transportation modes ferrying schoolchildren. These vehicles usually run on CNG as it is more cost effective, though they are prone to such accidents.

“We already have educational sessions in schools and will include fire safety lessons in these sessions,” a senior traffic official said. He explained that small exercises such as spotting a fire at the initial stage, ways to use a fire extinguisher, and the safe way of exiting a burning vehicle if it has been centrally locked, would prevent fatalities.

Dhruti Leekha, a 33-year-old government employee who was handed a fire safety pamphlet as part of Tuesday’s drive, said she did not know that detachable head rests of the driver and the passenger seats could be used to break open the window glass in case the car is locked. “There are so many things in your car that you take for granted but can save your life in case of a fire. I generally find such displays quite irritating but this guide is extremely helpful. This is a good way to get commuters’ attention as they wait at a signal,” Leekha said.