KATHUA: The District Administration Kathua led by District Development Commissioner Dr. Rakesh Minhas today handed over a fully-equipped fire tender to Basohli Public. The significant step addressed the long-standing demand of the local community and marks a crucial improvement in the region’s fire safety infrastructure.
The fire tender, sourced by Administration from NHPC as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, will be stationed at Basohli—a region that, until now, lacked a sanctioned unit of the Fire & Emergency Services Department. The newly deployed vehicle will serve as a crucial first-response resource in fire-related emergencies, significantly improving the region's disaster readiness.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, MLA Basohli Darshan Singh underscored the importance of accessible emergency infrastructure in remote areas. “This is a vital step towards bridging a critical gap. In the absence of a dedicated fire and emergency services unit in Basohli, the district administration come up with this initiative of having dedicated Fire Tender stationed at Basohli. He said “We will ensure this fire tender is fully functional and effectively managed by locally.”
District Development Commissioner Dr Rakesh Minhas reiterated the administration’s broader commitment to improving emergency services across Kathua. “This initiative is just the beginning. We are actively working to replicate this model in other underserved and high-risk areas of the district and similar service will be started in Billawar and Bani soon. Ensuring the safety of our citizens and the protection of their property remains a top priority.”
DDC Chairman Col (Retd) Mahan Singh expressed gratitude to the administration’s timely intervention. “The arrival of this fire tender brings a much-needed sense of security to our residents. It is a transformative development for our area.” DDC Mahanpur Tejinder Singh, ADC Basohli Pankaj Bhagotra, Sr. Manager NHPC Dhiraj Kumar, CPO Kathua Ranjit Thakur, ex-PRI members and large number of locals were also present.
