Fireman who died battling fire in Sector 17 to get President’s medal

Twentyseven-year-old Amandeep, a resident of Dabwali Dhab village in Muktsar, Punjab, was employed in the Municipal Corporation’s Fire Department. He was engaged to be married at the time of the tragedy.

Besides Amandeep, a fireman from the Air Force, Ravinder Kumar Sharma, also died when the NIELET building collapsed following a major fire on June 8 last year. The debris of the building has still not been cleared from the site.
“Amandeep is a martyr who laid down his life during the fire-fighting operations and is being awarded in recognition of his gallantry and valour in the line of duty. He showed exemplary courage in performing his duty,” said Mayor Poonam Sharma while announcing the posthumous award which will be presented in New Delhi.

His uncle B S Sidhu, a retired fire officer, said that Amandeep would have reached the pinnacle of success in his life had he been alive. “He was an ambitious person, and very sincere towards his duty. He is being rightfully recognised for his sacrifice,” the uncle said, but added that the family had not been given the compensation which it was promised.

Harjinder Singh, president of the Chandigarh Firemen’s Union, said, “We knocked on all doors after the incident to fight for our rights, and finally, Amandeep’s sacrifice has been recognised by the government, for which we are thankful to Commissioner V P Singh. However, we’re still waiting for the group insurance scheme approved by the MC House to be implemented, as it is yet to get the approval of the administration.”

‘Everybody offered us help… we still waiting’

Ravinder Kumar Sharma’s family is still waiting for the job promised to his eldest son by the municipal corporation last year. Sharma, a resident of Dadu Majra, was the sole bread-winner in his family. “Initially, everybody offered us all kind of help, and the MC House resolved to give me a job. However, we’re still waiting. I’ve a large family to support and in the absence of a job, it is getting difficult to make ends meet,” said Sharma’s son Dheeraj, 22.