GUWAHATI, June 17 - With parts of Assam reeling under floods, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed teams in six places to rescue marooned people. The SDRF has also deployed its teams with boats and other rescue equipment in 28 vulnerable places in the State.
Moreover, the early warning systems in Guwahati city will now be manned jointly by the SDRF, district administration and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) so that immediate precautionary measures can be taken.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Director General of SDRF AP Rout said that its teams have been deployed in 28 locations across the State, so that they can act immediately to rescue people affected by natural calamities, including floods.
Apart from their own vehicles and over a 100 boats provided to these teams, the SDRF personnel have also been directed to use the fire service vehicles whenever necessary.
The SDRF presently has two companies, he said, adding the recruitment process for the third company is being complete. �We intend to create a complete battalion of seven companies so that the SRDF can do a better job during any kind of disasters,� he said.
The SDRF DG said that proper monitoring of the early warning system is vital for mitigating disasters. So, from now on, the 18 early warning systems in Guwahati would be maintained jointly by the SDRF, district administration and the ASDMA so that better monitoring can be ensured.
A team of the SDRF has also been deployed near the statue of Lachit Barphukan in the Fancy Bazar area of the city so that they can act immediately in case of any disaster on the Brahmaputra river.
Rout added that following three major landslide incidents in the city since last night, two injured persons have been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. There were also two incidents of guard wall collapses.
Meanwhile, ASDMA State Coordinator RP Baruah said that six NDRF teams have been deployed in six vulnerable locations of the State. The deployments were made following the approval by the Chief Secretary. Baruah added that over 800 personnel of the NDRF are working in the field. While teams from the 1st Battalion of the NDRF have been deployed in Barpeta, Sonitpur, Sadiya and Jorhat, those from the 12th battalion of the NDRF, based in Itanagar, have been deployed in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, he added.
