With its population reaching 11 lakhs, the city has rapidly expanded, especially towards the southern sectors. A number of unauthorised colonies have also come up in the city, where major fire incidents have already taken place in the past.

This has led to the response time for attending fire and emergency calls increasing considerably from five minutes to around 15 minutes, said sources.

To cater to the demand, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has proposed to come up with two new fire stations at IT Park and in sectors 44, 53 and 52 along with residential quarters.

While the expansion plan is in the pipeline, the MC has not yet been able to fill the posts lying vacant in the department.

At present, the responsibility of seven fire stations of the city is divided between two Fire Station Fire Officers. While Station Fire Officer Madan Lal Sharma looks after fire stations in Sector 17, Sector 11 and Sector 38, his counterpart S K Gosain looks after Sector 32, Ramdarbar, Industrial Area Phase-I and Manimajra fire stations.

When the department was handed over to Municipal Corporation, four posts of Station Fire Officers were also transferred to it. In due course of time, three Station Fire Officers retired.

Though the MC has already passed a resolution regarding the framing of new service and recruitment rules for making new appointments, but the notification has yet been issued.

There are some of the leading firemen who have qualified for the post of Station Fire Officer after completing their training from National Fire Service College Nagpur, but the department has not given them any posting.

While Joint Commissioner-II, H S Kandhola, holding the charge of Chief Fire Officer, could not be contacted for his comments, Mayor Pardeep Chhabra said the MC was concerned about the safety of residents and their property.