Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday flagged off 14 new fire tenders procured for Rs 6.70 crore at Choura Maidan in Shimla to promptly respond to fire-related emergencies. These vehicles have been dispatched to the Training Centre Baldeyan and to other centres at Deha, Ubadesh, Nerwa and Theog in Shimla district, Dharampur and Thunag in Mandi district, Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti, Shahpur and Indora in Kangra district, and Nadaun in Hamirpur district. The chief minister said, “The new fire tenders have been allocated keeping in view the needs of both remote and densely populated areas, ensuring a timely response to fire-related emergencies. An amount of Rs 23 crore has been allocated for the purchase of additional fire tenders to further enhance the fleet.” Reiterating the state government’s commitment to strengthening fire services, the chief minister said, “Adequate financial resources are being provided to the department. For the fiscal 2025-26, Rs 4.24 crore has been sanctioned for equipping new and upgraded fire stations, while Rs 7 crore has been allocated for the construction of departmental buildings at Nadaun and Indora.” Sukhu said the recruitment process for 700 posts of Home Guards would be initiated shortly to augment manpower and improve emergency response capabilities.
