As a part of expansion of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the State police are mulling to send a proposal seeking approval for three more companies of SDRF which would include 491 personnel, to the State Government.
Currently, there are four companies of SDRF consisting of 730 posts of police forces. Sub-inspectors and armed constables have been included in SDRF and they are pressed into service in case a disaster is reported from any part of the State, said additional DGP (administration) Ram Singh Meena on Wednesday.
He said that considering the importance of SDRF as a unit playing a significant role in rescue and relief operations since its inception in October 2013, a proposal has been sent to State Government, seeking permission for the constitution of three more SDRF companies. SDRF battalion would also be set up in Kumaon region, he added.
In the past few years, SDRF personnel have been deputed at important locations during Char Dham Yatra, Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, Ardh Kumbh and Mansorawar Yatra 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, he added.
ADGP Meena said that currently, four companies of SDRF, including one company of woman, have been formed in the SDRF battalion. One commandant and one deputy commandant along with one assistant commandant have also been appointed to lead the battalion. SDRF teams had conducted public awareness on “how to conduct relief and rescue operations after disaster” in the disaster- affected areas of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts in the past, he added.