Delhi’s cabinet has approved a 1,050-member State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with nearly 60 Central Armed Police Forces personnel planned for deployment in each of the capital’s 13 districts and about 300 kept on standby for rapid mobilisation during emergencies.
The force will respond to building collapses, urban flooding, earthquakes and other disasters requiring specialised search-and-rescue operations, evacuation of stranded residents and advanced equipment. The decision comes as congested roads, narrow lanes, densely populated neighbourhoods and unauthorised construction can make it difficult for emergency teams to reach affected areas quickly.
An official said the personnel would be equipped with advanced rescue equipment and that the process of setting up the force had begun following cabinet approval. The government is targeting deployment of the teams within a month, with accommodation to be arranged at the district level.
Ninety per cent of the SDRF’s personnel will be drawn from the CAPF on deputation, while the remaining 10% will be recruited directly. Recruitment rules for the force will be framed. A senior Indian Police Service officer will head the SDRF and coordinate with government and security agencies.
The equipment planned for the force may include hydraulic tools to cut through or move heavy debris, life detectors to locate survivors beneath rubble and breathing apparatus for operations in smoke-filled or oxygen-deficient environments. Inflatable boats may be used during flooding, while specialised collapsed-structure rescue equipment will help teams operate around unstable buildings and extract trapped victims.
The personnel will operate under the orders of district magistrates or other competent district-level authorities. They will coordinate with the Delhi Fire Services, police and other emergency responders during operations. According to the official, district-level deployment could reduce the time required to mobilise trained personnel, particularly in neighbourhoods where access is difficult.
The SDRF will function under the supervision of Delhi’s revenue department. A temporary headquarters will be arranged initially, while land at Alipur may be provided for a permanent headquarters. Periodic training will be conducted to maintain the force’s operational readiness.
Delhi already has the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the city’s apex body for disaster planning, coordination and preparedness. The new SDRF is intended to provide the operational arm for on-ground search and rescue, evacuation and emergency response.
The next steps are the framing of recruitment rules, arrangements for accommodation and headquarters, equipment procurement and deployment of district-level teams. The government has set a target of beginning deployment within one month.
