Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today laid the foundation of the new campus of National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) 1st Battalion at Amsing NC, Sonapur in Kamrup Metropolitan district in the state.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju who was present on the occasion, said that laying the foundations of both the battalion campuses of NDRF in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh today marked a new beginning for disaster management initiatives for NDRF in the Northeast region which suffers from frequent natural calamity occurrences.
He also said that professional approach in disaster management is a must and other countries are following India’s disaster management model. He also highlighted better efficacy of NDRF’s relief and rescue operations in the region in view of permanent helicopter service started by the Force.
Sonowal said that NDRF had always been playing a stellar role during natural calamity in the spheres of disaster management in the country. Referring to the recent incidents of boat capsizes in Brahmaputra and drowning of a family in Dikhow River in Sivasagar in Assam, Sonowal said that during both these occasions NDRF played a key role in rescue operation
He also said that NDRF is a key pillar in the country’s disaster preparedness mechanism and NDRF and SDRF are both providing services during critical situations which have been instrumental in saving both life and property. Sonowal highlighted the need to create awareness among the people for disaster management preparedness.
Director General of NDRF Sanjay Kumar, Assam’s minister of state for Revenue and Disaster Management Bhabesh Kalita were also present on the occasion.