The details of deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams outside India are as under:-

1. In March 2011, 01 NDRF team consisting of 46 rescuers with rescue equipments was deployed in Rifu Cho, Japan under the India Rescue and Rehabilitation Mission in the aftermath of Triple Disaster (Earthquake, Tsunami and Radiation leakage from Nuclear Power Plant).

2. In March 2014, 01 NDRF team consisting of 42 rescuers with rescue equipments was deployed in Bhutan in connection with boat capsize incident, in which 5 Bhutanese Nationals were missing in Gongri river, Bhutan.

3. In April 2015, 16 NDRF teams consisting of 700 rescuers with dog squad and rescue equipments were deployed in Nepal to provide humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of earthquake of magnitude 8.1.

4. In February 2023, 03 NDRF teams consisting of 152 rescuers with dog squad and rescue equipments were deployed in Turkiye to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the aftermath of earthquake of magnitude 7.8.

 

(c): To strengthen NDRF in the country, Government of India had approved the raising of 04 additional battalions of NDRF that has increased the number of NDRF battalions from 12 to 16. These battalions are strategically located as per vulnerability profile of the country to provide immediate response during disasters or threatening disaster situations.

In order to build and continuously upgrade the capacity of NDRF personnel and to provide them holistic training, NDRF Academy has been set up in Nagpur in 2018. Apart from it, strengthening of NDRF is monitored and reviewed by the Government at regular intervals in view of unforeseen disasters occurring in the country, which inter-alia include the following:

(i). An Umbrella Scheme namely “Infrastructure for Disaster Management” from 2021-22 to 2025-26 at a total financial outlay of Rs.949.81 crores, for infrastructure Development in NDRF Battalions, Regional Response Centres and NDRF Academy.

(ii). NDRF is equipped with state of art equipments to deal with various manmade and natural disaster situations.

(iii). Capacity building programmes of NDRF as well as of various stakeholders, including school safety programmes are undertaken to enhance preparedness of the community.

(iv). International workshops/ field exercises are undertaken by NDRF to acquaint the Force with the latest international standards. NDRF personnel are also nominated to participate in various international events i.e. training courses/seminars/workshops/exercises etc., which benefit NDRF personnel in upgrading their skills and learning about best practices in Disaster Management and gaining knowledge of sophisticated equipments & techniques being adopted globally.

(v). Government is providing all support and assistance to the NDRF for upgrading the force capability by providing requisite approval for purchase of advanced equipments and machinery, as and when needed.

 

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

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RK/AY/SM/AKS/RR/2303

(Release ID: 1947139)