Dehradun: For the first time, 12 women rescuers have been deployed on the Char Dham pilgrimage route in Uttarakhand. These brave women are part of the state disaster response force (SDRF) team, entrusted with ensuring the safety and well-being of pilgrims during this sacred pilgrimage.

On the conclusion of 84-day basic first responder course of 53 police personnel appointed on deputation to SDRF at SDRF headquarters in Jolly Grant, SDRF Commander Manikant Mishra said that smooth operation of the upcoming Char Dham pilgrimage is the top priority of SDRF. Making SDRF more inclusive, for the first time, women rescuers are also being deployed at various posts of SDRF in order to prepare for Char Dham yatra and monsoon season. SDRF women rescuers deployed on the Char Dham Yatra route will play an important role in rescuing the devotees. Presence of women adds a new dimension to disaster preparedness and rescue operations.

SDRF commandent Mishra informed that all the police personnel have shown high quality performance in every rescue drill during 3 months of training. He also congratulated the 53 police personnel who joined SDRF after passing the training and asked them to remain self-motivated for the upcoming yatra. Currently, the state has 31 SDRF posts and in view of the Char Dham yatra, SDRF personnel have been deployed at 9 additional places.

Along with the distribution of certificates to all the trainees in the last session of the program, Commander SDRF Manikant Mishra informed that detailed information about disaster management was given to the trainees during the training. Besides, practice of carrying out relief and rescue work during disaster was also conducted. Intensive training on Medical First Responder (MFR), Collapse Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), Flood Rescue, Rope Rescue etc. was given by the skilled trainers of SDRF.

In aerial firefighting through the Airforce helicopters, forest fires were extinguished in Pauri district yesterday. The Indian air force (IAF) helicopter scooped up water from the Alaknanda river using a bambi bucket and dropped it over burning forests in Dobh Srikot in Srinagar and Pauri areas to extinguish the fires. Meanwhile, the national disaster response force (NDRF) has been deployed in the worst-affected districts of Pauri and Almora.