In its bid to strengthen its operational capability, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is to procure latest equipment for communication and rescue measures including Quick Deployable Antenna, inflatable lED lights, ground sensors and snake eye cams among others.

NDRF Director General OP Singh said, “We have procured decontamination system on trial basis. We are also on the verge of procuring hand-held see through wall detectors through which a person trapped 20 metres deep in the rubble can be tracked. After the trial runs of these equipments are successful, we will send a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for procurement.”

In 2015, the NDRF had procured 21 major equipments in contrast to five to six equipment during the last few years, Singh said.

The year 2015 was a very challenging year in terms of disaster but technological response to relief and rescue measures have been sharpened. “We have learnt a lot from operations in earthquake-hit Nepal and urban flood in Chennai. Accordingly, we are evaluating a number of equipments for improving our responses,” he said.

The number of rope rider and rope launching systems within the force are also likely to be procured in significant number in the coming year.

Snake eye cam is a portable inspection system that is flexible and helps in searching people trapped under collapsed structure. Ground sensor radars also help in locating victims under the rubble.

The Quick Deployable Antenna facilitates voice and data transfer and enable the rescue team to communicate amongst themselves and with others in an area where the regular communication systems are hit after a natural calamity.

Pneumatic Shoring System and Hydraulic Shoring System proposed to be procure help in analyzing threats arising out of aftershocks following an earthquake. “Communication systems at our disposal need to be refined for better relief and rescue operation,” Singh added.