Kinnaur gets quick reaction force

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 22

The Home Guards and the Civil Defence Department have raised the first disaster management, Quick Reaction Force (QRF), in the landslide and cloudburst-prone tribal district of Kinnaur.

The QRF will be set up in all other districts as well. Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commandant General, Home Guards, said the first QRF had been raised in Kinnaur by training 50 selected home guards personnel.

“They have been provided a specialised training in disaster management by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in critical areas of the Medical First Responder (MFR) and collapse structure,” he said.

He said the personnel were also being trained at the Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, in advance search and rescue, river crossing and rock climbing to enhance their skills.

“The QRF has been provided with a vehicle and all other relevant equipment like rescue bags, stretchers, blankets, ropes and helmets,” he said. A special uniform is also being made for the QRF to enable their identification and facilitate their work at any site of the incident.

He said the QRF was providing help to people as well as the administration in times of need.