Govt to raise disaster response force

New Delhi: The Delhi government has approved raising a State Disaster Response Force of 1,050 personnel to ensure an efficient response to natural and man-made disasters in the Capital, officials said on Friday.

A senior Delhi government officer said the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, recently approved raising 18 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) companies, one in each of the 13 districts and five reserved ones.

Currently, Delhi lacks a dedicated disaster response force, which officials said hinders quick, efficient action during emergencies like fires, building collapses, and major accidents. Each SDRF company will comprise 50-55 rescue and relief workers drawn primarily from the central paramilitary personnel.

Officials also said some positions will be filled through direct recruitment.

The Delhi SDRF will be headed by an inspector general (IG) rank police officer, they said. Work on raising the SDRF in phases in the coming months will begin after the Cabinet’s proposal is sent to Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu for his nod. After that, officials said, a formal notification will be issued.

The need for a dedicated SDRF in Delhi was felt for many years due to its importance as the national capital and also due to potential threats like floods and earthquakes besides man-made disasters including fires, accidents and building collapses like the one in Satya Niketan last month that claimed seven lives.

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