Monsoon ready: How NDRF is preparing for rains in Mumbai and Maharashtra

As the monsoon season in Maharashtra approaches the National Disaster Response Force NDRF is gearing up to ensure the safety and resilience of vulnerable regions across the country Constituted under the Disaster Management Act 2005 the NDRF is dedicated to providing specialised response during disasters living up to its motto ldquoAapda Seva Sadaiva Sarvatrardquo Their unwavering dedication in major rescue operations in India and abroad has earned them the title ldquoAngels in Disasterrdquo among citizensNDRF comprises 16 battalions drawn from personnel of the BSF CISF CRPF ITBP SSB and Assam Rifles These battalions are strategically located across the country based on regional vulnerability profiles to ensure rapid deployment and response to both natural and manmade disastersThe 5th Battalion of NDRF located in Sudumbare near Pune in Maharashtra is responsible for operations in Maharashtra and Goa The 5th battalion also maintains a Regional Response Centre RRC in Andheri Mumbai and a Temporary Platoon Location TPL in Maharashtras Nagpur ensuring swift response capabilities across these regions Maharashtra is prone to extreme climate events such as floods landslides droughts and industrial accidents and remains a primary focusNDRF Commandant Santosh Bahadur Singh of the 5th Battalion highlighted the importance of strategic prepositioning of teams based on vulnerability and hazard mapping in coordination with the State Disaster Management Authority SDMA of Maharashtra ldquoTo help the civil administration and save precious lives we have held several meetings with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC state counterparts and district collectors to formulate an effective response planrdquo Singh saidThe NDRF is also preparing for an annual conference at Delhirsquos Vigyan Bhawan next month bringing together heads of SDRF NDMA other stakeholders and state representatives to share best practices and lessons learned aiming to improve response capabilitiesThe 5th Battalion played a crucial role during the Maharashtra floods of 2021 which severely impacted Kolhapur Raigad Ratnagiri Sindhudurg Sangli and Satara In 2023 ten NDRF teams were prepositioned across Mumbai Kolhapur Satara Sangli Ratnagiri Raigad Palghar Thane and Kalyan in MaharashtraThe NDRF has been involved in premonsoon discussions with divisional commissioners and District Disaster Management Authorities DDMAs In these meetings demands have been made for prepositioning teams in parts of Mumbai that are prone to landslides and in districts that are prone to flooding such as Thane Raigad Satara and Sindhudurg These teams are prepared to respond quickly to emergencies such as floods and cyclones collapsed structure search and rescue CSSR and the use of canine squads to locate individuals who may be trapped They are also prepared to manage highrise mountain rescues and Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear CBRN catastrophes The 5th Battalions readiness for the monsoon season includes frequent training and retraining familiarization exercises mock drills and cooperative exercises with several stakeholders Training takes place in the waterways of Mumbai and in Sudumbare in Pune The NDRF also uses outreach programs and training initiatives to strengthen the capacity of SDRFs civil defense and other stakeholdersAs part of the NDMAs flagship Aapda Mitra Scheme the NDRF actively trains community volunteers in basic relief and rescue operations for disasters like floods To establish a culture of disaster preparedness among the population initiatives such as school safety programs disaster management training mock exercises and community awareness campaigns are carried outIn Maharashtra the practice of proactive availabilitymdashplacing NDRF workers in highrisk areas ahead of timemdashhas greatly reduced the amount of damage caused by natural disasters The NDRF has solidified its reputation as the Angels in Orange since its founding by demonstrating exceptional effectiveness in offering emergency aid and medical attention after significant disastersAll NDRF units are on high alert as the monsoon season draws near and they have enough manpower equipment and supplies to handle any emergency Prepositioning teams in highrisk areas will guarantee a timely reaction to any unfortunate events showcasing NDRFs dedication to protecting people lives and propertyWe cannot stop natural disasters but we can enable the community with knowledge to prevent loss of life and contain damage Commandant Singh properly concluded People feel more confident when they see the NDRF which represents the compassionate side of the authorities that are committed to helping those in need