Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has reached last stage to procure fire vehicles at 9 different airports.
The fire vehicles manufactured in Rojen, Austria was purchased in NRs 19 crore by CAAN.
Two types of fire vehicles i.e Ultra light and medium fire vehicles will arrive within a few days.
Devananda Upadhaya, Deputy Director General of the Airport Operation stated that medium fire engine having capacity of 2900 liters water and 500 litres foam will be placed at Chandragadhi, Janakpur, Bharatpur and Dhangadhi Airport.
CAAN has prepared to procure more fire vehicles for safety enhancement in the airport zone.
CAAN has started process to add fire vehicle under the criteria of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
According to Upadhaya, Ultra light fire vehicles having capacities of 700 litres water and 50 litres foam will be used in the airport located at Rara, Tumlingtar, Jumla, Jomsom and Simikot.
According to the ICAO criteria, Medium Fire fighting and rescue vehicles lie under Category 3 whereas Ultra light fire vehicles lies in Category 1.
As per the CAAN, 28 airports along with Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) are in operations. Among these, TIA including 8 airports has modern fire vehicles.
Upadhaya stated that due to geographical situation of certain airport, there is problem to add large fire vehicles.
Fire Estimation tools are being installed in such airport for present time.
TIA has five fire vehicles having capacity of 12,500 liters water and 1500 liters of foam whereas one has 9000 liters of water and 1500 liters of foam capacity and one has 6000 liters of water and 1000 liters of foam capacity.
TIA also has one rescue, one fire command vehicles and three ambulances.
Kul Prasad Singkhada, chief of Electro Mechanical Department stated that there are 9 fire vehicles in other 7 airports.
