In order to strengthen the State disaster management authority, the State Government is in the process of facilitating well-equipped search and rescue vehicles starting with Almora district. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this after flagging off the first batch of the equipped search and rescue vehicles from the local circuit house at Almora on Friday.
Speaking at the launch of the equipped search and rescue vehicles, the CM said that such facilities will enable swift action in response to disaster scenarios and road accidents. He further said that vehicles available with the department have been modified in order to install necessary equipment including wood-cutter, metal cutter, concrete cutter, stretcher, rope-way seat harness, search light, blankets and other aids required.
According to the State authorities, search and rescue vehicles will be dispatched towards the location concerned as soon as information is received on the district emergency operation centre telephone number 05962-237874, 237875 or the toll free number 1077. On the occasion, the chief minister also distributed the equipment procured through the disaster management department to be installed in the police stations and Tehsils of the district.
The Almora district magistrate Savin Bansal informed that training and other measures are being undertaken to further strengthen and enhance efficiency of disaster response. The DM further averred that the emergency operation centre set up in Almora district is providing its service 24-hours.
The Vidhan Sabha speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, local MlA Manoj Tiwari, senior superintendent of police KS Nagnyal, additional district magistrate Ila Giri, chief development officer Prakash Chandra, sub divisional magistrate Vivek Rai, disaster management officer Rakesh Joshi and others including the local residents and various departmental officials were also present on the occasion.