Considering the importance of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) as a unit that has been playing a significant role in rescue and relief operations in the disaster-prone areas since its inception in October 2013, the State police are mulling to set up six company headquarters in mountainous districts of the State. This is being envisaged to ensure that its personnel get familiar with the geographical conditions that exist in these areas. This familiarity with the topography of these places they would be sent to when warranted would help them to act swiftly as first responder, said State director general of police (DGP) BS Sidhu on Saturday.
A battalion consisting of three companies have been formed in Garhwal region which has been stationed at Jolly grant. Apart from this, two more companies, including one of women SDRF personnel, will be included in the existing SDRF battalion, based at Jolly Grant in Garhwal region, he added.
The department is planning to form another battalion in Kumaon region that comprises four companies. Regarding this, a proposal has been sent to the State Government, he said.
He further said that company headquarters will be set up at Sonprayag (Rudraprayag district), Govindghat, (Chamoli) and Srinagar (Pauri Garhwal) in Garhwal region and Kanda, (Bageshwar), Sariya Pani (Almora), and Jauljivi (Pithoragrh) in Kumaon region.
The company headquarters to be based in Sonprayag will cover areas like lincholi, Kedarnath, Sonprayag, and Guptkashi and two rooms will be provided by district disaster management centre, Rudraprayag. The company headquarters to be based in Govindghat will cover Joshimath, Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and the land will be provided by power department. The same to be set up in Srinagar would cover Char Dham Yatra routes under its jurisdiction.
lauding the role of SDRF in disaster situation, the State’s top cop said they are not found wanting whenever and wherever they are stationed. “However, things would be even better after the company headquarters come up as the personnel will be moved on rotation from one company to another after a gap of 60 days.
The new SDRF battalion will be set up covering 25 acres of lands in Pantnagar, Kumaon region. A police officer of the rank of DIG would monitor the works of both the SDRF battalions.
SDRF personnel have been deputed at important locations along the Char Dham Yatra and Mansorawar Yatra routes with direction to conduct rescue and relief operations in case of emergency as well as to evacuate the stranded pilgrims to safer places.
SDRF has sufficient equipments to conduct relief and rescue operations in case landslide, flood, earthquake or other calamities befall. The personnel are adequately trained to take on any eventuality. A flood rescue team has also been formed by SDRF and they are trained on rafting, swimming and deep diving courses.
Currently, three companies of SDRF have been formed in the SDRF battalion which are being monitored at Police Headquaters. One commandant P Renuka Devi and one deputy commandant along with one assistant commandant have also been appointed to lead the battalion in Garhwal region, he added.