India, Oct. 17 -- The death by electrocution of a contractual firefighter in Diva while rescuing a pigeon has brought to light the dire conditions contractual firefighters are forced to endure - they lack even basic safety gear such as gloves and helmets.

HT had reported on October 13 that a firefighter, Utsav Patil, 28, had died and another, Azad Patil, 29, was injured when attempting to rescue a pigeon trapped in overhead electric wires in Diva, in Thane, on Sunday.

Azad Patil said on the day of the accident, they had received a call about a pigeon being entangled in the electric wires. They informed the fire control room and Shil Fire Station, which is larger than the one at Diva, about the incident. They requested that the power sup...