The Delhi government approved a 1,050-member State Disaster Response Force to handle emergencies like fires and building collapses. The Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta cleared the plan. The NDRF will train these personnel to improve rescue operations. Officials said the force will work in phases across all districts.
The Delhi government has approved the creation of a 1,050-member State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to improve its response to natural and human-made disasters in the national capital, officials told news agency PTI.
The force will have 18 companies, including one in each of Delhi's 13 districts and five reserve units. The decision was recently approved by the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Delhi currently does not have a dedicated disaster response force, affecting its ability to act quickly during emergencies such as fires, building collapses and major accidents, officials said. Each company will have 50 to 55 rescue and relief workers, drawn mainly from central paramilitary forces. Some posts will also be filled through direct recruitment.
The force will be headed by a police officer of inspector general rank. Work to establish it in phases over the coming months will begin after the Cabinet's proposal is sent to Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu for approval. A formal notification will then be issued, officials told PTI.
Officials said Delhi has needed a dedicated disaster response force for several years because of its status as the national capital and the risk of floods, earthquakes, fires, accidents and building collapses. A building collapse in Satya Niketan last month claimed seven lives.
Gupta met senior National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officers last month to discuss setting up a modern disaster response team in Delhi. The NDRF will train the proposed force and help it acquire specialised equipment suited to Delhi's geographical conditions and local requirements, according to officials.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to share details of disaster management equipment and its storage locations with the departments concerned. This is intended to ensure that the equipment can be made available immediately during an accident or disaster.
The Delhi government also plans to provide specialised training to fire department personnel and Civil Defence volunteers. Officials said this would equip local personnel to support rescue and relief operations during large-scale disasters.
Once the Lieutenant Governor approves the proposal and a notification is issued, the Delhi government plans to establish the 1,050-member force in phases, supported by NDRF training, specialised equipment and trained local personnel.