Since its inception NDRF has continued to win hearts of millions of countrymen, by demonstrating its expertise and compassion while handling disaster situations.
ANDALIB AKHTER
Heavy rains in different parts of India particularly in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar and Gujarat – have taken several lives and caused widespread damage in recent weeks.
The death toll from the annual monsoon deluge across the country rose to at least 209. Heavy rains in parts of – Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat – have forced more than 20 lakh people to leave their homes and take shelter in government-run relief camps. Last year, Kerala was hit by its worst floods in almost a century and is still recovering from the extensive loss of life and damage to public infrastructure including highways, railways and roads. Some 450 people lost their lives there in 2018. While the monsoon rains are crucial to replenishing water supplies in India, they claim hundreds of lives across the country every year.
The rains submerged roads, rail lines and cut off several areas both urban and rural. People were suffering immensely.
At this juncture National Disaster Response Force NDRF emerged as the saviour of flood victims. Teams of NDRF immediately swung into action and carried out flood rescue operations with full zeal and commitment.
Since its inception National Disaster Response Force NDRF has continued to win hearts of millions of countrymen, by demonstrating its expertise and compassion while handling disaster situations.
5375 Persons Rescued and More Than 42,000 Evacuated by NDRF
5375 people rescued & more than 42,000 stranded persons & 268 livestock have been evacuated and taken to safer locations by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) across the country since operation commenced. The NDRF is engaged in rescue & evacuation work with full zeal & commitment at various districts of flood affected states viz. Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Total 173 flood rescue teams are deployed by Force across the country for rescue & relief work during the recent monsoon season.
In Kerala the incessant rainfall across the region has affected most of the districts of the state viz. Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kannur. Bridges, roads are vulnerable to flood which has affected the normal life of the populace. Yesterday, incessant rainfall triggered a major landslide at Ipadi, Puttupala, Wayanad in Kerala, which trapped several people under the debris. NDRF team immediately rushed to the incident site. However, heavy rains and debris on the way obstructed the movement of NDRF team. Despite all odds, NDRF team managed to reach incident site and immediately started the operation with other agencies. In a joint operation, rescue agencies evacuated 194 persons. In addition, NDRF team operational at Mallapuram evacuated 27 person from flood affected areas, today. 13 NDRF teams are deployed in Kerala.
In Karnataka, 09 additional teams (05 from Kolkata & 04 from Ghaziabad) are in the State to expedite operations. Presently, 20 NDRF teams are engaged in rescue & relief work with full zeal & commitment at Kodagu, Raichur, Belagavi, Bagalkot & Dharwad districts. Today, teams evacuated 374 persons at Belagavi and 12 at Dharwad . Till Now, NDRF has evacuated over 3400 persons & 24 live Stocks to safer places in Karnataka.
In Maharashtra, 32 NDRF teams are present in the flood affected areas of the State for quick response. Today, NDRF has rescued 2750 persons & evacuated 883 persons at Sangli whereas 300 persons rescued and 246 evacuated to safer locations at Kolhapur by NDRF teams. So far, NDRF has rescued 5292 persons and also evacuated more than 18,000 persons & 40 livestock’s in Maharashtra. Besides, team also retrieved 07 dead bodies. The operations are still on.
In Andhra Pradesh, 05 NDRF teams are deployed in Andhra Pradesh. NDRF team deployed at East Godavari commenced rescue operation and evacuated36 people to safer places, today. Total 76 persons evacuated in Andhra Pradesh, till now.
In Madhya Pradesh, 03 NDRF teams are deployed in the State. Today, team evacuated 86 persons at Badwani. So far, 115 persons & 17 livestock have been evacuated by NDRF in Madhya Pradesh.
And In Gujarat today, NDRF team evacuated 150 persons from flooded areas of Chota Udaipur where a total of 4245 persons and 57 livestock have been evacuated by NDRF. 18 teams are deployed in Gujarat.
A 24×7, NDRF Control Room in New Delhi is functioning round the clock to keep the close vizil over the development of situation and is in touch with other agencies & stakeholder. DG, NDRF is personally monitoring the rescue & relief operations by NDRF and additional teams are on standby at various NDRF locations.
Despite multidimensional challenges, the brave-hearts of NDRF always led from the front, displayed high level of dedication & commitment towards our motto आपदा सेवा सदैव which implies Sustained Disaster Response Service under all circumstances. The motto underlines the unwavering commitment of NDRF personnel (fondly called the RESCUERS) to their assigned task of effective disaster response under all circumstances. The sincerity, professionalism and devotion displayed by the RESCUERS during various forms of disasters have created a goodwill and positive image among citizens so much so that the NDRF has been referred to as the “Angels in Disaster”.
Since its inception NDRF has continued to win hearts of millions of countrymen, by demonstrating its expertise and compassion while handling disaster situations. The list of such challenges is long. To cite a few; a six storey building collapsed at Bellary (Karnataka) in January 2010. In a meticulously planned, round the clock operation lasting seven days, the NDRF rescued 20 trapped live victims and retrieved 29 bodies. In a multi-storey factory building collapse at Jalandhar (Punjab) in April 2012, the NDRF successfully rescued 12 live victims trapped under huge rubble of debris and also recovered 19 dead bodies. The sterling services rendered by 46 NDRF personnel in response to the triple disaster in Japan in March-April 2011, has also won NDRF laurels.
The mid nineties and the subsequent decade saw much international debate & discussion around Disaster Response & Preparedness. Some of the notable and more impactful ones were the Yokohama Strategy Plan (1994) & the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005), adopted by the UN. During the same period India faced some of its most severe natural calamities like Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004). This succession of events and the International environment brought to fore, the need of comprehensive disaster management plan. This led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26th , 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was constituted to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.