In order to purchase search and rescue equipment, the World Bank has released Rs nine crore to State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) recently. The tender process for purchasing these equipments is underway,” said SDRF battalion commandant P Renuka Devi on Tuesday.
“The department is planning to deploy SDRF teams to train youth of 50 villages on how to save human life and property in disaster scenarios and for this, a proposal has been sent to the State Government recently,” she added.
Devi said that the department received Rs nine crore under Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project which aims at increasing the technical capacity of the State entities to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency and restore housing, rural connectivity and build resilience of communities in Uttarakhand.
Search and rescue equipment to be purchased include hand tools (collapsed structure search and rescue equipments), detection and location equipment, diving equipment, ambulance equipments, extraction and access equipment, lighting and power equipment, power tool, water rescue and flood relief equipment, medical first response, (MFR), portable shelters and sheets, mountain and high rise building equipment and radio and communication. These equipments will enhance the capabilities of SDRF in risk mitigation and response, she added.
She further said that three SDRF teams will be deployed to train youth of 50 villages in mountainous parts of the State apart from which, youth will be given necessary equipment to save life and property in disaster scenario for which a proposal seeking Rs 35 lakh has been sent to the State Government.
Devi informed that teams are currently deployed at Harshil, Kedar valley and lambagad. Following recent two consecutive reports of earthquake in Pithoragarh, a team of SDRF will soon be deployed there. The State Government has assured a chopper for emergency deployment of the SDRF team in disaster areas of the State. “We are being updated about weather forecast for various parts of the State especially the mountainous regions by the Met office and teams are put on alert if adverse weather conditions are forecast by the Met office,” she added.