Away from families, they are always there when duty calls (original) (raw)

The Solan fire station staff on Saturday. (Express Photo)

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Away from families, they are always there when duty calls

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With Diwali, the festival of lights round the corner and festivity all around, with markets decked up, and family get- togethers, there are some who work and are on duty on Diwali night to ensure a safe and happy Diwali for you all. From the officials of the police department, to the firemen at the Fire department to the hospital staff, duty comes first for all of these officials as they would stay away from their families on Diwali night and be on duty to ensure a safe and secure Diwali for all others. While for some it is the satisfaction of being the guardians of a safe Diwali for all, for some the family feels proud that these officials consider their duty first and family next.

“It is a matter of pride if we can ensure a safe and prosperous Diwali for all, by being on duty, on this night. While initially, the family would feel sad, especially the kids who always felt that while all other kids celebrated their Diwali with their parents unlike them, now they have understood that there is a greater happiness in making Diwali safe for all others rather than being at home with the family. I have been in service for the past 18 years, and in the last 18 years I have never celebrated Diwali with my family. Yet I have no regrets as the feeling of being on duty and ensuring a safe and secure Diwali for others is equally satisfying for me”, said a Solan fireman requesting anonymity.

He further added, “To compensate for our absence on Diwali, we ensure all the favourite things and sweets, demanded by our kids and family are brought well in time so that they do not miss the presence of a father on Diwali night. And it is not just me but many others like me who would be on duty on Diwali night, with similar emotions and sentiments. No holidays are allowed around and during Diwali days and the entire staff of our fire station, Solan would be at the service of our people with only one aim in mind: a safe and secure Diwali for all and all enjoy to their fullest this festival of light.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Dr Abhey Gupta, a Skin specialist with the Government Regional Hospital, Solan and who would be on duty on Diwali night. “This is my first Diwali after marriage, but as doctors ,the call of duty always takes priority. Also my wife, who herself is a doctor with PGI, would be on duty on Diwali night. A large number of cases of burns and Skin related issues are reported on Diwali night and it is for this that I would be on duty to ensure that no major or minor cases of burns or skin go untreated on that day. We as doctors always feel that the safety of the patient should be priority over everything else. Especially on Diwali, we want our people to enjoy and celebrate the festival of light with free minds and rest would be taken care of by all others on duty”.

Talking to The Indian Express, SP, Solan, Gaurav Singh said, “Our families have been conditioned that way now. During initial years, the family did get the feeling of being together on special occasions, but now over the years, they have realised that we have a far bigger responsibility than being with them. To ensure a safe and prosperous Diwali for all, our entire police staff, both (in uniform and civil clothes) would be on duty and ensure that sharp vigil would be kept on any anti-social activities especially related to smuggling of liquor, drugs etc happen during the Diwali time. Apart from the existing force that we have, a special reserve force will also be called in and all the police officials including all the concerned police stations and traffic police officials would be working 24×7 to ensure safe and secure Diwali for all. Also various CCTV cameras which had become non functional during the incessant rains some time back have been made functional, so that every nook and corner of the city is under surveillance.” He further added, “So, it is duty first for all to ensure a safe and happy Diwali for all”.