Mumbai to get its disaster response force today

Mumbai: On the lines of Centre’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Mumbai will get its own city disaster response force (CDRF), which will carry out relief and rescue operations during calamities. The Brihanmumbai Muni-cipal Corporation (BMC) will be the first civic body in the country to have its own force to deal with disasters and calamities.

The CDRF, which will be a part of BMC’s disaster management cell, will consist of 200 jawans from the BMC security force, 20 medical officers and officials from the fire brigade and BMC disaster management cell. 

They will be provided special training by the NDRF officials. According to civic officials, BMC deploys NDRF teams, which are located at Talegaon, Pune, in the city as a pre-cautionary measure during monsoon. 

However, looking at the geographical limitations, it is not possible for NDRF jawans to rush to the city every time during calamities. Hence, the BMC had decided to form its own disaster response force on the lines of NDRF.

The training will include tackling chemical, biological, nuclear or atomic attacks, first response medical training, the rescue of people during building collapses, floods etc. They will also be trained in relief and rescue operations for earthquake and other natural and man-made disasters.

The 200 jawans will be deployed in all 24 administrative wards so that in case of emergency, they can reach the spot immediately. The main task of the CDRF jawans will be to carry out rescue and rehabilitation works, public-awareness works and also participate in mock drills in disaster management with other agencies.

The training ceremony for the jawans will be inaugurated on Tuesday at City disaster training centre in Parel.