New Delhi: Nearly 60 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed in each of Delhi’s 13 districts and about 300 will stand by for rapid mobilisation in emergencies as chief minister Rekha Gupta’s cabinet has approved the setting up of a 1,050-strong State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
The personnel will work in coordination with agencies such as Delhi Fire Services, police and other emergency responders,” the official said. The force will be trained to respond to emergencies such as building collapses, urban flooding, earthquakes and other disasters that need specialised search-and-rescue operations, evacuation of stranded people and the use of advanced rescue equipment. Congested roads, narrow lanes, densely populated neighbourhoods and unauthorised construction often hamper access for the rescue teams. Such situations require teams to maximise the chances of saving lives and minimise damage. Inflatable boats can support rescue and evacuation during flooding. Equipment for collapsed-structure rescue will also be provided. This can help the personnel operate around unstable structures, locate survivors and extract them without triggering further collapse. “They will be used under the orders of the district magistrates or competent district-level authorities. A force with district-level deployment could help reduce the time taken to mobilise trained personnel, particularly in areas where access is difficult. The SDRF, in contrast, will be a force for on-ground operations such as search and rescue, evacuation and emergency response.