NDRF team called in for possible flood ops

Ranchi: The disaster management department has roped in a 50-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Kolkata to tackle possible flood-like situations that may arise due to heavy rains in the monsoon. The team from the second battalion arrived in Ranchi on Wednesday equipped with rubber boats, trained divers and other equipment.
The state government had made a requisition to the ministry of home affairs and DG National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in May.The decision to rope in the NDRF team was taken in 2013 when floods in southwestern districts of West Bengal affected areas in Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singbhum districts of Jharkhand.
Deputy secretary of the department, colonel Sanjay Srivastava, on Wednesday said the NDRF team will camp at Home Guard Complex in Hatia till October, the end of the monsoon season.
Team members will also engage residents of flood-prone areas across Jharkhand in mock drills to deal with various other natural disasters, said another official from the department. The deputy commandant of the team could not comment as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Apart from responding to emergencies, the team will be utilized for training the state’s own disaster response force (SDRF) which is currently being formed.
The state SDRF will comprise ex-defense personnel and men from the state home guard.
According to NDMA, 16 out of 24 districts in Jharkhand are prone to floods and flash floods with areas adjoining Ganges in Sahebganj district the most vulnerable. Places lying on river basins run risk of flood like situations.
While Swarnarekha and Kharkai rivers flood their embankments in Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singbhum districts, flooding of Son River affects parts of Garhwa and Palamu districts.