Chandigarh:
Kite threads often get tangled on poles, wires, and trees and birds end up getting stuck in them. One such pigeon was seen struggling after getting stuck in a kite thread at Sector 44 C (also known as Computer Market) in Chandigarh. Fortunately, the pigeon was saved by the kindness and presence of mind of a Chandigarh Fire Service Department leading fireman Charanjeev Singh.
Armaan (name changed), a Market visitor noticed a struggling bird stuck on a kite thread above an electricity pole. He informed the Police Control room (Dial-112) and Fire Service Department officials rushed to the spot. Teams of the Fire Service Department led by leading fireman Charanjeev Singh brought the bird down and proceeded to gently remove the kite threads from its body. Singh showed empathy, sense of urgency and saved the bird struggling in threads of kite fliers.
Ramesh Gupta, a Market Visitor said, “Every life is valuable. Salute to Chandigarh Fire department officials for their kindness.” Another visitor, Anup said, “Nice job. We appreciate the kindness of kind fire department officials who rescued the pigeon.”
“Humanity at its best…kudos to this kind firemen. Kindness should be the only ornament of human kind. It’s great that some of us do have that and that’s why the world still has a bit of goodness left,” Sumitra Kohli said.
Divya said, “Helping out others is no doubt a noble task. When it comes to rescuing and fostering the stray and abandoned animals, it can be a stress buster and morale boosting activity. For many people it is a two-way process; they help the animals and it helps them back.”
Rohit Malhotra said, “Fire department has always taken the responsibility of that good samaritan to reach the spot, well within time, and save the life of the voiceless creature.”
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ Sector-17 Station Fire Officer Lal Bahadur Gautam said, “We received the call at around 11. 49 AM on Friday. The bird was stuck on an electricity pole, entangled in kite strings. Two fire tenders were pressed into action and after reaching there and assessing the situation, with the help of a ladder, the bird was rescued successfully. Teams led by leading fireman Charanjeev Singh rescued the pigeon.”
He further said, “Fire Brigade is not just about fighting fires, and saving human lives and property. There is no categorisation done by the fire brigade and animals and birds are put under one ‘rescue’ category. Our motto is – Serve to save life and property. In the last one year, we have all together rescued about 214 animals and birds collectively.”
Gautam further said, “Distress calls are received. Most of the distress calls received by the Fire department were for rescuing birds such as crows, pigeons, parrots that got entangled in kite strings dangling from overhead wires or trees. The department also received calls related to cows, cattle, dogs or cats and reptiles that got stuck inside narrow lanes, closed spaces, and even in houses, pits, canals or drains.”
Another fire service officer said that for rescue of birds and animals, a vehicle is sent along with a team consisting of four-five firemen. The vehicle usually has a ladder but in cases, where it faces difficulties with high rises, bigger vehicles are sent if required. Once the bird is rescued and in case it needs treatment, the fire services personnel shift them to a bird hospital. “Every life is important to us and our firefighters risk their lives daily to save the lives of others. According to our data, our firefighters not only take part in fire rescue operations but also go beyond their call of duty to rescue birds and animals that get trapped or entangled.”
He further said that the number of distress calls for saving birds increases during the kite-flying season. The maximum numbers of such cases were reported around Independence Day and Makar Sankranti when people traditionally fly kites and the strings get suspended from trees and poles, creating a death trap for birds.
“We don’t differentiate between any lives. Our response time in acting on a complaint of bird rescue is similar to that of going to fight an inferno. We don’t deny any kind of rescue call and just because these are not human lives, there is no laidback attitude in dealing with such cases,” he added.
