National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Archives - Lokmarg

Raigad Landslide Toll Rises To 22

By LokMarg 22nd July 2023

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continued its search and rescue operations at the landslide-hit Irshalgad in Raigad on Saturday. Till now, 22 dead bodies have been recovered from the site, officials said.

One team of NDRF reached the site early this morning and more are of its teams are expected to join the search operation later today.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will visit the landslide-affected people lodged in a nearby temple around 10.30 am today.

A landslide struck the tribal village situated on a hill slope in Khalapur tehsil, Raigad district, approximately 80 km from Mumbai around 11pm on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the site of the tragedy yesterday and took stock of the relief and rescue efforts. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased, said officials.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Chief Minister Shinde after the incident. Shah said four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to execute the rescue operation.

Five more bodies were recovered on Friday and the search and rescue operation was suspended for the day with the consultation of District administration due to bad weather conditions, said SB Singh, commandant, 5 Battalion, NDRF.

“We carried out a search and rescue operation with three of our dogs and one of our dogs detected two bodies today. We are facing many challenges and cannot take our latest machinery to the (landslide-hit) site”, said an NDRF official on Friday. (ANI)

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58 NDRF Teams Deployed In Flood-Affected Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, U’khand, Delhi

By LokMarg 14th July 2023

A total of 58 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are deployed in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, where torrential rainfall and the release of water from barrages have resulted in unprecedented floods.

Among these 58 NDRF teams, 16 are deployed in Delhi, 11 each in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and 10 teams in Punjab and Haryana each, said the NDRF.
In view of the prevailing situation, these 58 NDRF teams have been deployed in flood-affected areas of these states for rescue and relief work in coordination with the state administration.

Till now, the NDRF said, its teams have rescued 1,423 people from difficult areas and evacuated 4,404 people to safer places in Delhi.

Besides, the NDRF teams are conducting regular rescue and evacuation operations in flood-prone areas in other states also.

Overall, during the current monsoon season, the NDRF has rescued more than 2,039 precious lives and evacuated 13,965 people and several live stocks, said the NDRF.

The force is also providing medical assistance to needy people and distributing relief material in coordination with the State administration and Police.

NDRF’s control room in its Headquarters in Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and is in close coordination with concerned authorities and stakeholders. (ANI)

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38 NDRF Teams In Punjab, U’khand, Himachal Carry Out Rescue Op

By LokMarg 10th July 2023

A total of 38 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are deployed in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as relentless rain continued to lash these states for the third straight day in a row, putting normal life out of gear.

As the rain across the northern parts of the country has killed over 20 people, as well as caused landslides and flash floods in the region, the NDRF’s 15 teams are deployed in Punjab, 12 in Uttarakhand and 11 in Himachal Pradesh.
Some reserve teams of the NDRF are also ready to meet any challenge in an emergency situation in Delhi where the Yamuna river is flowing at 203.58 meters and is expected to reach 205.5 meters by tomorrow morning.

Speaking to ANI, NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi said that the reason behind heavy rains for the last three days is due to Western Disturbances.

“This situation often comes in monsoon. This caused heavy rains. Early warning and IMD (India Meteorological Department) prediction was given in advance regarding it,” Shahedi said.

Asked about the deployment of the NDRF, Shahedi said, a total of 15 teams are deployed in Punjab, 12 in Uttarakhand and 11 in Himachal Pradesh presently.

“Some more places may face problems as a few reservoirs will be opened tomorrow. NDRF will be deployed accordingly to deal with any challenge,” the DIG added.

As per the officer, some rescue operations have also been undertaken by the NDRF personnel in each of these three states– Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. “Rescue operations were conducted in almost each state, and it continued the whole night.”

“Relief materials have also been provided at many places. The relief materials have been provided to people stranded at some safe locations. These materials were provided to these people with the help of state administration and state agencies,” Shahedi told ANI.

The officer further said that the NDRF had received information from Central Water Commission (CWC) that the danger level of water in Delhi will touch by this noon. “If there is any emergency situation in Delhi, the NDRF teams in Delhi’s Dwarka and Ghaziabad are ready.

As per SSP Mandi, Soumya Sambasivan, there is a state of complete disaster in the Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh as many buildings, bridges and parking lots have been washed away.

Similar conditions are in Punjab and Uttarakhand as heavy rains triggered landslides and have left hundreds stranded as several roads — including National Highways– have been damaged due to landslides, adversely impacting vehicular movement in Himachal Pradesh.

As per IMD, it had given a warning for extremely heavy rainfall and issued red alerts in Himachal Pradesh. “Tomorrow onwards, rain is likely to decrease in Himachal Pradesh but in Uttarakhand, for the next 3 days, similar kind or a little lower intensity rain is likely to continue…Today, heavy rain expected in eastern Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh and south Rajasthan…,” said the IMD. (ANI)

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Ludhiana Gas Leak Incident: Death Toll Rises To 11

By LokMarg 30th April 2023

The death toll in the gas leakage incident that occured in Giaspura in Ludhiana district on Sunday has risen to 11.

‘A total of 11 persons are dead. There are five females and six males including 2 male children of 10 years and 13 years,” the official said.
The two deceased at SPS Hospital have been identified as Naveent Kumar (39) and Neetu Devi (39), they said.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed deep sorrow and anguish at the gas leakage.

“The incident of a gas leak in the factory in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being extended to the affected. Rest details soon,” Punjab CM Mann tweeted.

NDRF teams have been rushed to the factory and a team of doctors and a fire brigade also reached the spot.

“Definitely, it is a gas leak case. The NDRF team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation. 9 people died in this incident and 11 are sick,” said Swati, SDM Ludhiana West.

“Exact reason will only come when we will go to the incident spot. We are waiting for the NDRF, they are specialized in this,” another officer said.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

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Turkey, Syria Earthquake: Modi Hails NDRF, Dog Squad Members

By LokMarg 20th February 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday heaped praise on the rescue professionals of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the dog squad members saying that they showed amazing strength and India was one of the first responders when the recent deadly earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.

PM Modi was interacting with the Indian rescue professionals of NDRF and other organizations involved in ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey.
“Our dog squad members showed amazing strength. The country is proud of you. Our culture has taught us ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. We consider the whole world as one family. When a member of the family is in trouble, it is India’s duty to help it. India was one of the first responders when the earthquake hit Turkey and Syria,” said PM Modi.

Lauding the quick response of the NDRF team during the earthquake he said that it is a reflection of the preparedness of the rescue and relief teams.

“India’s quick response during the earthquake has attracted the attention of the whole world. It is a reflection of the preparedness of our rescue and relief teams,” he said.

The Prime Minister further asserted that no matter which country, if it is about humanity, then India keeps human interest paramount.

“The whole world saw how you reached there immediately. It shows your preparedness and your training skills. The way our NDRF personnel have worked for 10 days is worth praising,” said PM Modi.

Highlighting the support provided to countries during the Covid surge he said that India is a true example of being self-sufficient and selfless.

“We have helped citizens of other nations during Covid. If an individual is able to help oneself, they can be called self-sufficient, but when an individual helps others, they are considered selfless. The same is true for nations. India is a true example of being self-sufficient and selfless,” said PM Modi.

He asserted that it is India that has helped several needy countries of the world.

“Necessary medicines and vaccines were delivered and that is why today there is goodwill for India in the world,” the PM said.

“Wherever we reach with our Tiranga, there is an assurance, since the Indian teams have arrived, the situation will get better,” he added.

Recalling the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat he said that he had then worked as a volunteer and seen the difficulties faced in rescuing people.

“We all have seen those pictures where a mother gives you a blessing by kissing on the forehead. When there was an earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, I worked as a volunteer, and I have seen the difficulties faced in rescuing people,” he said.

He further thanked the entire team for keeping the reputation of the country shining bright in such a difficult situation.

“Whatever you have done has brought glory to the country and if you institutionalise what you have learnt we can create a trust for the coming future,” he said. (ANI)

Turkey Deployed NDRF Rescue Team Arrives In India

By LokMarg 17th February 2023

The forty-seven-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived in the country on Friday after conducting the 10-day-long rescue operation in the earthquake hit Turkey.

The NDRF team has come back along with the dog squad members Rambo and Honey.

Talking to ANI, Sub-Inspector of NDRF, Shivani Agrawal said that the team worked to help the affected persons and also extended them emotional support.

“My whole team has returned. The team included five women as well. The earthquake has devastated Turkey and the situation is very serious. We have worked as a team to help the affected persons and supported them emotionally,” NDRF Sub-Inspector Shivani Agrawal said.

#WATCH | Turkey: India's NDRF personnel were warmly welcomed at Adana Airpot after they returned from rescue & search operations in various earthquake-hit areas of Turkey. pic.twitter.com/eovdanIaS7
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2023

The NDRF personnel were warmly welcomed at Adana Airpot after they returned from rescue and search operations in various earthquake-hit areas of Turkey.

The team had made an all-out effort to save lives and find a living soul in the rubble at the disaster site at Nurdagi and in different parts of Turkey which were badly affected by the earthquake on February 6.

A six-story building collapsed and turned into rubble at the Nurdagi site where the NDRF conducted search and rescue operations after the locals informed NDRF about surviving victims inside the debris, dog squad members Julie and Romeo were tasked to locate the surviving victims.

The specially trained Labrador breed dog squad, which is an expert in sniffing and other key skills during rescue operations in disaster-hit regions, left India on Tuesday for Turkey with two separate teams of NDRF– a 51-member team which arrived there in the morning and another 50-member team which reached by the evening.

While India’s National Disaster Response Force miraculously rescued a six-year-old girl and made headlines, a lot of the credit for the daring rescue ought to be reserved for ‘Romeo’ and ‘Julie’, part of the NDRF’s dog squad.

Romeo and Julie succeeded where machines failed. The dog squad was instrumental in detecting the little girl’s whereabouts under tonnes of rubble. Without their help, the little girl could not have survived.

India announced ‘Operation Dost’ shortly after the magnitude 7.8 quake-ravaged Turkey and sent a team from the Indian Army to set up 60 Para Field Hospital and the NDRF for search and rescue operations, including relief and humanitarian assistance to the ‘Dost’ country.

As Turkey continues to grapple with life in the aftermath of the earthquakes, help has been pouring in from all over the world. India has also sent relief material to Turkey and also dispatched National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to assist in the rescue operations.

The death toll from the earthquakes in Turkey and northwestern Syria has surpassed 41,000 as rescue efforts continue, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry has provided life-saving humanitarian medical Assistance to quake-hit Turkey and Syria under ‘Operation Dost.’ Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya said that India is helping Turkey and Syria with medical equipment, and critical care drugs.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Mansukh Mandaviya stated, “India is helping Syria and Turkey with the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. @MoHFW_India provided life-saving emergency medicines, protective items, medical equipment, critical care drugs, etc as part of India’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria.” (ANI)

Joshimath: Demolition Of Damaged Hotels, Houses To Begin Today

By LokMarg 10th January 2023

Authorities at Joshimath said on Tuesday that they will start demolishing hotels and houses in the holy town, which developed cracks in the wake of the landslide and subsidence.

Hotels Malari Inn and Mount View, which have developed more cracks, will be demolished on Tuesday, officials said, adding that all residents have been safely evacuated from the ‘unsafe zones’.
The demolition of buildings will begin under the supervision of a team of experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee.

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is on standby to assist the district administration in the demolition work, as and when required.

“Experts are on the ground and the administration will take action on their directions and advice,” said the NDRF.

“They will be demolishing these hotels for the safety of the 15-20 families still living here. Our houses have been destroyed,” said Manmohan Singh Rawat, a local.

On Monday, District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana informed that a central team was to arrive in Chamoli district to survey the damage wrought to properties by the land subsidence and suggest a way forward while coordinating with the local administration in relief and rescue efforts.

“A team from the Ministry of Home Affairs will come to Joshimath on Tuesday. Demolition of buildings will start tomorrow under the supervision of the team of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) Roorkee,” Khurana had said earlier.

On Monday, a team from the Ministry of Jal Shakti also arrived at Joshimath.

The areas where the buildings will be demolished have been vacated by the administration after they were declared ‘unsafe zones’.

The officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also called on Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence on Monday and discussed relief and rescue operations.

The officials assured the chief minister of an investigation into the geographical condition of the Joshimath area and the causes of the landslide. The state administration was also assured of being central in mobilizing disaster relief.

Meanwhile, the District Disaster Management Authority, Chamoli issued a bulletin related to disaster management in view of landslides in the Joshimath area.

According to the bulletin, cracks have been noticed in a total of 678 buildings in the Joshimath town area. In view of security, a total of 81 families have been temporarily displaced.

“Under the Joshimath city area, 213 rooms have been temporarily identified as habitable, with their capacities estimated at 1191. Also, 491 rooms/halls have been identified in Pipalkoti outside the Joshimath area, with a combined capacity of 2,205,” the bulletin said.

The administration has also distributed food kits and blankets to the affected families, as per their requirements along with the distribution of funds to procure essential household items.

A total of 63 food kits and 53 blankets have been made available for the affected locals. (ANI)

Jyotirmath: Now Shankaracharya Matth Also Develops Cracks

By LokMarg 8th January 2023

The situation in Joshimath remains grim as one of the Hindu monasteries, the Shankaracharya Matth in Jyotirmath area, has also developed cracks in many places over the past 15 days, triggering a scare in the religious institute.

According to the Jyotirmath administration, these cracks have increased in the last 15 days.

Swami Vishwapriyananda, chief of Matth has cited the ‘development” as the cause of the calamity.

“Development has now become a reason for destruction as hydroelectric power projects, and tunnels have affected our town. There were no cracks before 15 days, but these days the cracks are continuously increasing in Matth,” Vishwapriyananda said while talking to ANI.

The town of Joshimath also called Jyotirmath, is the winter seat of Lord Badrinath, whose idol is brought down from the main Badrinath temple to Vasudeva temple in Joshimathevery winter. The holy town of Joshimath is revered by the Hindus as an important pilgrimage center of the country.

Meanwhile, the district administration has made arrangements for the affected families in the subsidence.

Following the appearance of cracks in the houses, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now.

“The district administration has made arrangements for the families affected by the natural calamity to stay in safe relief camps,” the administration said on Sunday.

District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana visited the relief camps last night and took stock of the arrangements.

“If there is any requirement, it is being made available immediately,” he said.

Residents of Joshimath, a sacred town in Uttarakhand, have become alarmed after noticing fissures in the town’s houses and roadways and have been evacuated and shifted to night shelters of the municipality by the administration.

According to the District Disaster Management Department, cracks have reportedly developed in as many as 561 houses in Joshimath as a result of continued land subsidence in the town.

The affected people, their families, and children are currently living in night shelters, officials said.

The state government has dispatched a team of experts to the area to assess the situation.

The teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure, Chamoli Chief Development Officer (CDO) Lalit Narayan Mishra said on Friday. (ANI)

Joshimath: Administration Has Made Arrangements For Families

By LokMarg 8th January 2023

With the land subsidence continuing at Joshimath town of Uttarakhand, the district administration has made arrangements for the affected families.

Following the appearance of large cracks in houses and roads, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now.
“The district administration has made arrangements for the families affected by the natural calamity to stay in ‘safe relief camps’,” the administration said on Sunday.

District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana visited the relief camps last night and took stock of the arrangements.

“If there is any requirement, it is being made available immediately,” he said.

Residents of Joshimath, a sacred town in the hilly state of Uttarakhand, have been alarmed after fissures started appearing in the houses and roadways and have been evacuated and shifted to night shelters of the municipality by the administration.

According to the District Disaster Management Department, cracks have reportedly developed in as many as 561 houses in Joshimath as a result of continued land subsidence in the town.

The affected people, their families, and children are currently living in night shelters, officials said.

The locals said that the people affected by the landslide, have been assured by the government that they will get pre-fabricated houses. However, they are worried about when the houses will be allotted to them.

Meanwhile, the state government has dispatched a team of experts to the area to assess the situation.