New Delhi
Delhi will set up its own State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with a battalion of up to 1,100 personnel to speed up rescue and relief operations during disasters, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Thursday.
The decision was taken in the aftermath of the Satya Niketan PG collapse incident which led to loss of 7 lives. The rescue operation lasted for over 26 hours.
On Thursday, CM Gupta chaired a high-level meeting with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials at the Delhi Secretariat. The proposed SDRF will function under the Delhi government and respond to disasters on its instructions.
The move is aimed at reducing Delhi’s dependence on external assistance and enabling faster deployment of trained personnel at disaster sites. The force will be equipped and trained with assistance from the NDRF, said officials.
“Setting up an SDRF in Delhi has been a long-standing requirement,” Gupta said. “Most states in the country have already established their own SDRFs. For a densely populated metropolitan city like Delhi, having its own SDRF is also the need of the hour.”
Gupta said the arrangement could not take shape during previous governments “for various reasons”. “The Delhi government will now move forward in this direction to reduce dependence on external assistance during disasters and strengthen the city’s capacity for an immediate local response,” she said.
Gupta said Delhi’s expanding infrastructure and growing population made stronger disaster preparedness essential. “The objective is not only to respond after a disaster strikes but also to ensure that Delhi is prepared and equipped to deal with such situations in advance,” Gupta said.
NDRF officials said a battalion of up to 1,100 personnel could be raised in Delhi. The force would function under the state government and could reach disaster sites quickly.
The government will also provide specialised training to Delhi Fire Services personnel and Civil Defence volunteers. NDRF will assist with the training and procurement of specialised equipment based on Delhi’s geographical and local requirements.
Making land available to the NDRF at multiple locations in Delhi was also discussed. Gupta directed officials to take immediate action to facilitate NDRF presence even in central, north and south Delhi for quicker access to disaster sites.