SHILLONG: The first National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) under the guidance of National Disaster Management Authority has trained two companies of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) of Meghalaya.
This initiative is the first step of Meghalaya to develop a self contained and capable disaster response mechanism at the State level so that the State can immediately respond to various disaster incidents which may take place due to dense population in Shillong and the typical geo climatic condition of the State.
Kulbir Krishan, DG Civil Defence and Home Guards had been instrumental in timely allocating the mind power and procurement of disaster management equipment so that the state response force could become a reality.
C. Rani, Commandant of CTI developed the training centre as per international standards and facilitated the trainees to undergo disaster management training in the best possible manner.
The best trainees of the first NDRF out of two disaster management courses run at the CTI, Shillong will undergo a trainers’ programme to develop a pool of trainers who would impart disaster management training to all the stake holders in Meghalaya.
The trainers’ programme is also aimed at developing response teams down to village level so that the aims of disaster risk reduction could be achieved.
The trainees underwent training in various disciplines like medical first response, collapse structure search and ) rescue, fire fighting, flood and water rescue, psycho- social care of disaster victims, dead body and carcass management, etc. The trainees were imparted practical training on each subject and practiced with latest disaster response equipments.
The closing ceremony of disaster management training was held on Friday at CTI Shillong.
Alok Kumar Singh, under whose direction the training was imparted, briefed the trainees on the occasion and stated that it was a proud moment for Meghalaya to have two highly trained companies of SDRF.
