State sanctions Rs 1 crore for equipment

SHILLONG: The state government has already sanctioned Rs 1 crore to buy necessary equipment to help the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel while carrying out rescue mission in case of any emergency situation.
The State Disaster Response Force had come under flak for using buckets to dewater a ring well in Mawdiangdiang recently to rescue three workers from Umroi. There was also delay in recovering the bodies of the workers.
A senior government official said on Monday that Rs 1 crore was sanctioned a year ago and some devices were purchased by the Civil Defence and Home Guards department.
The official directed the Civil Defence and Home Guard personnel to submit an additional list if more equipment are required.
Referring to the drowning incident in Mawdiangdiang, the district disaster management authority said the SDRF and Fire and Emergency Service had taken with them floating pumps to dewater the well and recover the bodies.
However, there was a constraint in using floating pumps as they cannot function properly due to lack of atmospheric air inside the well.
Moreover, the floating pumps could not be lowered much since the well became narrow with the increase in depth.
The pumps were bigger in size compared to the diameter of the ring well in the lower depths, the district disaster management authority said.