India

Delhi Deploys 50 Quick‑Response Vehicles and 20 Motorcycles to Cover 150 Fire‑Hotspots Ahead of Diwali

By Hemani Bhandari

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has positioned 50 quick‑response vehicles (QRVs) and 20 motorcycles at more than 150 fire‑hotspots across the city, including vulnerable markets and congested neighbourhoods, to enable faster firefighter access during Diwali. Officials say the QRVs and motorcycles will be stationed at places such as Vijay Chowk, Laxmi Nagar and Acharya Niketan in Mayur Vihar, where narrow lanes and traffic congestion could impede larger fire tenders. In addition, the DFS plans to deploy 15 extra fire tenders near vulnerable markets between 5 p.m. and midnight on November 7‑8 to cover peak festive hours.

The arrangements cover all 71 fire stations in Delhi. Divisional Officers and Additional Divisional Officers have been instructed to inspect tenders, conduct surprise visits and verify overall readiness. Automobile workshops have been kept ready for repairs, and wireless communication links have been strengthened for coordination during emergencies. All leave for fire personnel has been cancelled to support the festive deployment.

The control room has been reinforced, with staffing increased to about 30–35 personnel to ensure prompt handling of emergency calls. The DFS received 269 fire‑related calls on Diwali last year, and handled a comparable volume during the summer, when daily counts reached around 275 on two occasions in May. The experience of managing high call volumes, combined with the new QRV and motorcycle deployment, is expected to improve response efficiency during Diwali.

The article was written by Hemani Bhandari, a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in New Delhi, who reports on crime, policing, governance and social issues.