April 14th in Indian History,
14th April is also known as fire fighting day.At 16:40 hours on 14th April 1944, Mumbai was rocked by the catastrophic explosions in a vessel S.S.Port Stikins , berthed at No.1, Victoria Dock. The ship contained nearly 1,200 tons of explosives, cotton bales and oil drums. The destruction was appalling. Prince’s and Victoria Docks, were full of blazing and drifting ships, while other sank near the littered which they had been-moored. The approach channels the docks were littered with obstruction, and a vast land area of various types of buildings, roads and railways were utterly devastated . Beyond this area fires raged caused by the wide dispersal of incendiary material from fatal ship.
No exact toll of dead or injured will ever be known except for those 66 gallant personnel of Fire Service who laid down their lives and it is for their great act of bravery and devotion to duty that our great National salutes them to this day “14th April ” every year and years to come. For those who gave their lives on duty died a glorious death . ‘Death or Glory’ was the motto of these gallant men, and their sacrifice shall remain in memory forever. They brought honours and glory to the Bombay Fire Service. The services rendered by the Brigade will go down in the history in golden letters.
Courtesy:- Maharashtra Fire service http://www.mahafireservice.gov.in