Coimbatore :

S R Chandran, who has been part of 3,000 fire service and rescue operations in the last 39 years, was bestowed with the President’s Fire Service Medal for gallantry services during the Independence Day celebrations.

The Coimbatore division’s fire and rescue district officer was in Vellalore, fighting the raging fire at the dumpyard there, when his friend called to tell him about the medal. Chandran joined the service in 1987 and will turn 58 next year. With just one year left to retire, he said this medal commemorates his service.

“In this field, we get direct appreciation from people and are given importance in any crisis situation. It gives me great satisfaction to save lives and be appreciated for it. Whenever any disaster strikes, we are the first people to reach the spot,” he said.

There were many instances when he was the last person to have spoken to the victim before he/she died. “I have gone to the rescue of several burn victims. They talk to us about the situation and what exactly happened. Initially, I felt a bit awkward, listening to their personal stories. But soon I became accustomed to it,” he said. He recalled his third day of service when a man on cycle was run over by a truck. “It was the first time I had seen a dead body but I was not afraid,” he said.

His most challenging rescue operation was the Karikaranpudur floods in 1993. He had participated in the effort to save 1300 lives. “Located in Dindigul district, the entire village was under water. At that time, we had no mobile phones for communication. I was the first person to cross the river using a rope and one by one I helped the villagers cross it. After a few months, the villagers held a function to felicitate me. That was one of my best moments in service,” he said.

Having always wanted to get into uniformed service since the age of six, Chandran has won 80 cash awards and 25 good service entries in more than 10 districts he had served.

Chandran says that officers should be given rigorous training in adventure sports such as scuba diving. “This would come in handy during rescue operations,” he said. Shortage of trained manpower is a huge crisis in animal rescue operations.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / August 18th, 2016