Pawan Hans plans to tackle blaze from sky; in talks with Govt

With growing fire incidents in high-rise buildings, the Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd (PHHL) has come up with an effective and speedy technique to tackle the towering infernos directly from sky.

With growing fire incidents in high-rise buildings, the Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd (PHHL) has come up with an effective and speedy technique to tackle the towering infernos directly from sky.

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The national helicopter company is discussing a firefighting proposal with the government in which Pawan Hans helicopters will shoot water jets, retardant and foam directly from sky to douse flames, a method being successfully used in several developed countries like the US and Australia.

"We have been discussing the matter with the officials to bring in awareness and familiarisation with the potential benefits applicable in our unique Indian scenario," a senior PHHL officer told PTI here.

He said the PHHL was "already using this technique to wash insulators of high-tension wires for the Power Grid Corporation. With installation of some specific equipment, we will be ready for aerial firefighting too".

PHHL has been carrying out washing and maintenance of high-tension wires of the Power Grid in Northern India for the past two years.

The officer, who requested anonymity, said the only "glitch" would be the cost of operation which is expected to be high.

Without giving any figure, he said "as the operation will be the first of its kind (if the government gives a go ahead), the expenses need to be worked out based on the equipment supplies, personnel deployed and duration of operations".

"But when you compare the value of each and every life, the cost of operation will not seem much. Had this method been used in the Kolkata fire incident, the death toll would have been been far less," he said.