Instead of delaying rescue and firefighting operations by hesitating to call the emergency numbers, residents have been urged to inform the authorities concerned, such as Civil Defence, at the earliest to prevent any damage and casualties.
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By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

Many residents are hesitant about calling emergency numbers even during critical situations, it is learnt.
A sense of fear and apprehension, which is largely unfounded and hard to justify, is the main reason behind such behaviour, according to sources.
This was evident recently when some residents of a Doha neighbourhood were reluctant to call up the authorities concerned when a fire broke out in their building.
The incident took place at a mixed-use complex in Najma a little after midnight during one of the Eid days. Residents, despite being alerted about the fire by a grocer, were reportedly hesitant to contact the authorities for help. It was only after 5-6 minutes, which could amount to a critical delay in some cases, that somebody finally called up the Civil Defence.
Civil Defence personnel and equipment were deployed to the spot immediately and their swift action helped avert a major fire.
Interestingly, many onlookers were taken aback when a Civil Defence officer asked for the ID card of the person who had informed them about the fire. The caller gave them the QID number as he had rushed out of home and was not carrying the ID. The Civil Defence personnel then verified the details and proceeded with the formalities required after the firefighting operation.
"The crowd was pleasantly surprised that the formalities were conducted so smoothly. Maybe this will help overcome their fears when it comes to contacting the authorities during an emergency," said a resident.
When a similar case was reported from the area some time ago, onlookers had gathered around the site but no one wanted to inform the authorities. Eventually, a passerby called the 999 emergency number.
Speaking on the matter, a Civil Defence official had wondered why people were scared of informing them during an emergency. Residents should call the emergency numbers without any hesitation if they suspect anything serious or dangerous. "There is absolutely no harm in calling 999 if there is any doubt," he said.
Likewise, whenever there is a power failure or interruption in the water supply, people can inform Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation by calling 991. Many residents are often seen blaming others for such problems instead of lodging a complaint promptly, the sources point out.
There is a mechanism for lodging complaints for those using public transport and taxis, too. If they have any grievances, they can contact the 24-hour Mowasalat call centre on 44588888 or 44588588, fax on 44588844 or email to infor@mowasalat.com. They can also call 4000000.