In a quest to combat fire or emergency in the state, Assam launches ‘friends of distress force’ mobile app

Guwahati, October 4: In a quest to help fire and emergency services officials to inspect the presence of fire-fighting preparedness of buildings in the towns and cities, the state of Assam launched a mobile application called Bipod Bondhu Bahini (BBB) (friends of distress force) to the people of the state. The BBB comprises of the dedicated youth selected from different parts of the state having qualification of Higher secondary in Science stream.

 

The app was launched by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the 2nd Assam Police Battalion headquarters in Makun of Assam’s Tinsukia district on Thursday. Chief Minister Sonowal said, “The Bipod Bondhu Bahini has been raised following the principle of a friend in need is a friend indeed”. The youths have been trained to acquire the expertise to fight with any exigencies arising out of fire, earthquake or other natural and man-made disasters.

 

Emphasising his point, Assam CM said that the personnel of BBB have been trained in such a way that they would extend their help whenever a person is in distress. He however, said that people of the state need to have higher degree of awareness so that they themselves can negotiate with any emergency.

He also said that government is duty bound to provide services to the people with regard to empowering them to face any disaster but people should also be adequately focussed so that they can avert any kind of man made or natural disasters. He at the same time stressed that there should be close synergy between the government and the people so that the united effort of both can make the life more peaceful and harmonious.

Chief Minister Sonowal also appealed to the volunteers of Bipod Bondhu Bahini to lend their hands in generating mass awareness towards Swacch Bharat Mission, Fit India Movement, water conservation, adverse effects of plastic use etc.

He also said that government is contemplating to incentivise the services of the volunteers of BBB in line with the village defence party.