India, Jan. 5 -- The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) faces a severe manpower crunch, with critical vacancies in supervisory and frontline roles causing staff overload and compromising fire safety across the capital, according to DFS data.

Data shows that the agency currently has only 18 assistant divisional officers (ADOs) against a sanctioned strength of 24. These officers are tasked with conducting fire safety inspections and compliance checks at over 5,000 establishments - including restaurants, clubs, hotels, hospitals and commercial complexes - across the capital.

An ADO, requesting anonymity, said: "We review at least three to four establishments almost daily. Each inspection takes about two-three hours. At times, the ADOs are also task...