Confident of handling situations during chemical, biological and nuclear disasters, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has said it is preparing plans to rescue domestic animals besides human beings during calamities.
“Our personnel will be ready to rescue animals, mostly livestock, during disasters. The NDRF is likely to take up the animal rescue operation in one year,” NDRF Director General (DG) Krishna Chaudhury told reporters here.
Chaudhury, who was here to attend the 9th Raising Day of the NDRF on Sunday, said domestic animals which are considered part of family of the calamity victims also need not be left to die during disasters. “Many times people request our personnel to rescue their animals.”
Stating that about 40 personnel of NDRF have already undergone a training program in Chennai on rescuing animals during disasters, Chaudhury said similar modules would be conducted for the NDRF jawans in Patna and Palampur.
Rescue of domestic animals would also help save livelihoods of the poor who get affected by calamities, he said, adding that NDRF personnel have done commendable job during the cyclone Phailin in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. About manmade disasters, Chaudhury said, “We have identified them in three different categories like biological, chemical and nuclear.”
Terming cyclone Phailin as a “mega disaster”, he said his organisation felt sorry for the death of 21 persons in the calamity. “We are happy that we have saved lives of many people. At the same time, we are also sorry for not being able to save 21 lives.”
Elaborating his Odisha experience during Phailin, NDRF DIG SS Guleria said that to prevent casualty, his organization deployed personnel at vulnerable places across the coast.