The National Disaster Response Force Raising Day is celebrated on 19 January every year since it’s inception in 2006. The specialized task force has been constituted for special response to a threatening disaster situation or a disaster. This year National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be celebrating it’s 17th year of inception. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the parent body of NDRF. There are a total of 16 NDRF battalions which caters to the states and union territories around the country and about 13,000 personnel who work for the safety of the country.
NDRF is the world’s first dedicated stand-alone Disaster Response Force, a multi skilled and high-tech organization that effectively responds to all types of natural and man-made disasters, with fully equipped search and rescue and specialized CBRN Response Teams.
Why Was NDRF Formed?
During the mid nineties there were lot of discussion internationally regarding Disaster Response and Preparedness. As a result, the United Nations adopted some of the notable plans like Yokohama Strategy Plan in 1994 & the Hyogo Framework for Action in 2005. Around the same time, India faced some of its most severe natural calamities like Orissa Super Cyclone in 1999, Gujarat Earthquake in 2001 and Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. The calamities coupled with the ratification of international disaster management plans led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26th, 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was constituted to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management and in 2006 NDRF was constituted with 8 Battalions. In the beginning, apart from disaster management the personnel of NDRF were deployed for routine law and order duties also. On October 25, 2007, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for dedicating the NDRF for disaster response related duties. This led to the notification of NDRF rules on February 14th , 2008, thus making it a force exclusively for disaster management.
Location of NDRF Battalions
The NDRF battalions are placed at 16 different locations in the country based on the vulnerable positions of the country and to cut down the response time for their deployment at disaster site. The total strength of each battalion is 1,149. The battalions are trained and equipped to respond to both natural and man made calamities as well as for response during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
Achievements of NDRF
Since it’s inception in 2006, NDRF has has proved itself as an efficient force of the country by providing prompt response and assistance in any disaster. Let’s have a look at some of the highlights of NDRF’s services.
2010 – In January a six story building collapsed in Bellary (Karnataka). In a well planned, round the clock operation lasting seven days, the NDRF rescued 20 trapped live victims and retrieved 29 bodies.
2011 – The sterling services rendered by 46 NDRF personnel in response to the triple disaster in Japan in March-April, has won NDRF laurels.
2012 – In a multi story factory building collapse in Jalandhar (Punjab) in April, the NDRF successfully rescued 12 live victims trapped under huge rubble of debris and also recovered 19 dead bodies.
2013 – When Cyclone Phailin hit the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the NDRF battalions were deployed to evacuate people.
2014 – When cyclone Hud-Hud pounded the eastern Indian coast in October 2014, NDRF personnel were deployed to save the lives of the affected people. They used saw cutters to cut big trees and other metal objects likely to be uprooted and scattered by the ferocious winds of Hud-Hud.
2015 – On 25 April, when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 and a depth of 15 km struck Nepal, India’s National Disaster Response Force were the first to be on the ground. In the rescue operations, the personnel of NDRF pulled out 11 live victims out of a total figure of 16.
In later part of 2015, NDRF conducted a rescue operations in Bilaspur tunnel accident in Himachal Pradesh when two workers were trapped for nine days. The workers were safely retrieved from a collapsed under-construction tunnel.
In the month of December, unprecedented rain flooded parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry which resulted in urban flood in Chennai and its suburbs. NDRF’s timely response helped evacuate more than 14,000 flood affected people. NDRF teams also assisted local administration by providing immediate relief and medical care to thousands of needy people.
2019 – At least 58 teams of NDRF were deputed in Kerala during a flood in August making it the highest ever deployment of NDRF in any single state since its raising.
These are just a few instances of NDRF’s heroics. This humanitarian force has responded professionally in saving lives and livelihood and preparing communities for any calamity.
NDRF Raising Day 2023 Theme
NDRF has always led from the front, displayed high level of dedication and commitment. The NDRF have stayed true to their motto ‘आपदा सेवा सदैव सर्वत्र‘ ( ‘Apda Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra’ ) which implies Sustained Disaster Response Service under all circumstances. It plays a vital role in saving human lives and national property in disaster response operations. The force has earned national and international acclaim with its selfless service and unmatched professionalism in disaster management.
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National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Raising Day Quiz 2023
When was NDRF formed?
(a) 2005
(b) 2006
(c) 2007
(d) 2008
Ans: (b) 2006
Who is the current chairman of NDRF?
(a) Sanjay Kumar, IPS
(b) S N Pradhan, IPS
(c) Atul Karwal, IPS
(d) R K Pachnanda, IPS
Ans: (c) Atul Karwal, IPS
Where is the training center of NDRF?
(a) New Delhi
(b) Nagpur
(c) Mumbai
(d) Punjab
Ans: (b) Nagpur
How many personnel are there in a NDRF battalion?
(a) 1149
(b) 1000
(c) 1500
(d) 1410
Ans: (a) 1149
Which Ministry is responsible for NDRF?
(a) Ministry of Defence
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(d) Ministry of External Affairs
Ans: (b) Ministry of Home Affairs
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