Opinion | Braving Michaung: NDRF’s Relentless Journey in Emergency Response

As Cyclone Michaung wreaks havoc in the eastern coast of India, the NDRF is engaged in the difficult task of bringing relief to the areas hit by heavy rainfall and powerful winds. Over 29 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry for over a week now to conduct relief and rescue operations.

NDRF teams have been visibly present, going door to door and answering every call for help. Perhaps the most visible example of efficient rescue has been that of actor Aamir Khan and badminton player Jwala Gutta. But the force has also had to contend with some disappointments, like the death of several workers trapped inside a construction site in Velachery.

Just weeks ago, the NDRF had been leading the efforts to rescue 41 miners trapped in the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel. NDRF had successfully led the evacuation in the final phase of the rescue mission after the brave rathole miners and army engineers made their passage clear. That operation had dragged on for days, but as this Firstpost article notes, it has been a triumph of the Centre’s ‘whole of government’ approach to disaster relief.

NDRF is once again proving that it has become one of the most reliable disaster relief forces in the world. With its specially trained manpower and specialised equipment to deal with natural as well as man-made disasters, the NDRF has carved out a distinct identity for itself as India’s first responder. The force has come a long way since its inception in 2006 following the enactment of the Disaster Management Act. As part of the Home Affairs Ministry, NDRF has come to the rescue of people not just in India but also in Japan, Nepal and most recently in Turkey.

Inception to Global Recognition: NDRF’s Remarkable Journey

As the world’s most populous country, and one with a diverse geography, India suffers the most from natural disasters. In fact, the World Risk Report 2023, had placed India in third place after Indonesia and the Philippines.

The disaster management and relief operations are of specific interest to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who heads the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The prime minister has often closely monitored rescue operations in the country. Under Modi, India has embarked on a 10-point agenda in disaster relief which has seen high dividends. He has emphasised the need for disaster relief to be integrated across all development sectors. NDMA has made investments in risk mapping to better understand natural disasters, alongside leveraging technology to improve management efficiency. PM Modi has also been driving the call for a network of universities focused on disaster-related research and utilising social media and mobile technologies for risk reduction. He has been a strong advocate of international cohesion in disaster response.

While there was much international debate in the 90s around disaster response and preparedness, with the Yokohama Strategy Plan (1994) & the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005) adopted by the UN, the ultimate formation of the NDRF in 2006 arose in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Over the years, especially in the past decade, NDRF has witnessed a rapid evolution into a sophisticated disaster relief force. In 2006 when it was formed, NDRF consisted of 8 battalions. Today, it has grown to 16 battalions, drawn from various security forces— the BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles. Each battalion comprises 18 self-contained specialist search and rescue teams, totalling 45 personnel each, covering roles such as engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads, and medical/paramedics. Recently, the MHA asked CAPFs to depute more women personnel to the NDRF.

How NDRF has evolved over the years

• With a total strength of 1,149 personnel per battalion, all 16 battalions are well-equipped and trained to respond to both natural and man-made disasters. Moreover, they are specifically prepared to handle chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. NDRF’s budget stands at over Rs 1601 crore this year, marking an increase of 340 per cent since 2014. In fact, in 2010, its budget had been earmarked at only Rs 190 crore. Today, the NDRF stands as the world’s single largest force dedicated to disaster response. The proactive availability and pre-positioning of NDRF teams have proven crucial in minimising lives lost during major disasters which have gripped the nation. NDRF faced its first major challenge during the Kosi Floods in 2008, demonstrating a prompt and effective response.
• During the 2013 Kedarnath cloud burst and subsequent floods which killed thousands of pilgrims, NDRF bravely stepped forward and rescued nearly 10,000 people. Nine NDRF personnel laid down their lives in those tragic circumstances.
• In September 2014, Jammu and Kashmir experienced devastating floods triggered by heavy rainfall. It was the first urban flooding event of such magnitude for NDRF. It worked relentlessly to evacuate people stranded on rooftops.
• This experience came in handy when floods devastated Kerala in 2018. NDRF launched its largest relief and rescue operation to date and rescued thousands amid the devastating deluge. 58 teams of NDRF were deputed in August 2018.
• It played a similar role in Bihar in 2019 when 13 districts were hit, killing over 130 people.
• Like in the case of Michaung, NDRF has seen action in West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh whenever a powerful cyclonic activity like Amphan and Yaas has affected property and lives. The force has also emerged as a formidable tool for diplomacy as India has humanitarian and disaster relief expeditions abroad. Earlier this year, India had received high praise from the Turkish population for its efforts in ‘Operation Dost’.
• When a major earthquake struck southeastern Turkey in February, killing thousands in the region, the NDRF along with the Indian Army successfully carried out search and rescue operations in the country.
• Earlier, in 2011, NDRF personnel had helped during the triple disaster in Japan, where a massive undersea earthquake was followed by a tsunami which in turn caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
• In April 2015, when Nepal experienced a 7.8-magnitude earthquake with a depth of 15 km, the National Disaster Response Force gained attention for promptly adhering to the golden hours principle in disaster management and being the initial responders on-site.

NDRF’s role as a formidable force in the face of adversity, such as during Cyclone Michaung, underscores its evolution into a world-class disaster response entity. The force has successfully rescued more than 1.55 lakh human lives and evacuated more than 7.88 lakh stranded individuals from both domestic and international disaster events. NDRF stands out as a shining example of the outcomes achievable through a dedicated national disaster management program. Its journey from a nascent force to a global exemplar in disaster response is a testament to India’s commitment to a proactive approach to disaster management.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.