KATHMANDU: Currently we have 10 fire motorbikes on stand-by at the Juddha Barun Yantra Office in New Road. But, do we know who came up with the idea?

Taking into account the loss we faced earlier because of a ban on heavy-duty vehicles entering narrow alleys and roads of Kathmandu, office chief Kishore Kumar Bhattarai came up with the idea to introduce these fire motorbikes to the sole fire brigade center in the capital city, four years ago.

“We have controlled the damage caused by fire-related incidents by a remarkable level,” Bhattarai stated.

Bhattarai’s idea was backed up by Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Pvt. Ltd. (BAJAJ) owner Shekhar Golchha. He provided 10 Avenger motorcycles to make Bhattarai’s idea a reality by modifying them.

On either side of these motorcycles are two cylinders with dry chemical power instead of water. Other equipments like a fire axe, hydraulic cutter, oxygen cylinders, smoke-controllers, water pipes and ropes are also available in the two-wheelers.

Then Minister for Local Development Prakash Man Singh had inaugurated the motorcycles.

Bhattarai has been to the USA, Japan, Singapore, Italy, etc to receive trainings on how to control fire and had also learned about emergency preparedness during a crisis. He has also been giving various trainings regarding the fire mishaps and crisis management.

We have eight firemen at the moment and with the help of six fire brigades plus 10 fire motorbikes, we can easily tackle any fire outbreak in the Valley,” Bhattarai added.

However, Bhattrai expressed discontentment for the lack of support from the government, “We have not been able to provide our firemen with Personal Protection Equipment (PPI), we are using a kit by an Australian company, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.”

The fire brigade was first introduced by the then Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher in 1994.