NDRF forms special teams to deal with forest fires in India, training to begin on February 6
ANI |
Updated: January 19, 2023 at 5:40 p.m IST
Author: Rajnish Singh
New Delhi [India]January 19 (ANI): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will form three special teams to deal with forest fire situations across the country and the training of these teams will begin on February 6 this year.
NDRF chief Atul Karwal told ANI on the sidelines of the 18th troop withdrawal that three special teams have been selected from three different battalions – 1st Battalion in Guwahati, 10th Battalion in Madhya Pradesh and 15th Battalion in Uttarakhand.
The NDRF DG said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently tasked his forces to form a special team to deal with forest fire incidents, a key issue in forest areas across the country, including states like Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir. , Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
“For some time, the Ministry of Home Affairs was considering forming a special force to deal with forest fire incidents in the country. And the job has been given to us (NDRF),” Karwal told ANI.
“Three squads have been approved. 1st Battalion based in Guwahati, 10th Battalion based in Madhya Pradesh and 15th Battalion based in Uttarakhand. Three squads will be formed from these three battalions.”
Karwal said that the special training of these three special teams will begin on February 6.
The DG said equipment and other materials worth Rs 6 million will be purchased for these three groups to help them as special forces in forest fire incidents.
“The team undergoes special training and its personnel carry high-tech equipment to fight forest fires,” Karwal said.
Stating that the NDRF will play an active role in forest fires in the coming times as well, the 1988-batch Gujarat cadre officer of the Indian Police said that rescuers would be given proper training as per the plan and the force would be in touch with the ministry. Environment and forest for purpose.
The Ministry of the Environment, Forestry and Climate Change shared data at last year’s parliamentary session that showed a total of 2,23,333 forest fire reports across the country from November 2021 to June 2022.
The Forestry Research Institute of India detected the forest fires with the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) – Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors.
Forest fires occur every year in the summer due to a variety of natural and anthropogenic causes, including the accumulation of flammable materials such as dry leaves, branches, and pine needles. Most land fires are from land fires that damage vegetation.
The number of forest fires in the country varies from year to year depending on various natural and man-made causes. (LETTER I)