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National Disaster Response Force

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National Disaster Response Force
राष्ट्रीय आपदा मोचन बल
Insignia of NDRF
Agency overview
Formed19 January 2006; 18 years ago (19 January 2006)
JurisdictionGovernment of India
HeadquartersDirectorate General, NDRF, 6th Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi - 110001
Motto"आपदा सेवा सदैव सर्वत्र"
Employees13,000 personnel[1]
Annual budget1,601.02 crore (equivalent to 18 billion or US$220 million in 2023) (2023–24)
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Shri Piyush Anand, IPS, Director General
Parent departmentMinistry of Home Affairs
Child agencies
  • Karnataka State Disaster Response Force
  • Maharashtra State Disaster Response Force
  • Telangana State Disaster Response Force
  • Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force
Key document
Websitendrf.gov.in

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is an Indian specialised force constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.[2] : section 44–45 [3][4]

The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the state governments. The ‘Nodal Ministry’ in the central government for management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).[5]

When 'calamities of severe nature' occur, the Central Government is responsible for providing aid and assistance to the affected state, including deploying, at the State's request, of Armed Forces, Central Paramilitary Forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and such communication, air and other assets, as are available and needed.[6]

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the National Disaster Management Authority.[7] The head of the NDRF is designated as Director General. The Director Generals of NDRF are IPS officers on deputation from Indian police organizations. Director General is a three-star officer.

The NDRF is led by a Director General and also has several Inspector Generals (IG) and Deputy IGs, who are flag officers and wear badges of rank.[8][9]

Composition

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National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a force of 16 battalions, organised on para-military lines, and manned by persons on deputation from the para-military forces of India: three Border Security Force, three Central Reserve Police Force, two Central Industrial Security Force, two Indo-Tibetan Border Police, two Sashastra Seema Bal and one of the Assam Rifles. The total strength of each battalion is approximately 1149.[10] Each battalion is capable of providing 18 self-contained specialist search and rescue teams of 45 personnel each including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads and medical/paramedics.[11]

Deployment

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Major Disasters in India (1980–2009)

NDRF battalions are located at 12 different locations in the country based on the vulnerability profile to cut down the response time for their deployment. During the preparedness period fordisaster situations, proactive deployment of these forces is to be carried out by the NDMA in consultation with state authorities. Locations of NDRF Battalions are as follows:[12]

S. No. NDRF Unit State PMF
1 01 Bn NDRF, Guwahati Assam BSF
2 02 Bn NDRF, Nadia West Bengal BSF
3 03 Bn NDRF, Cuttack Odisha CISF
4 04 Bn NDRF, Vellore Tamil Nadu CISF
5 05 Bn NDRF, Pune Maharashtra CRPF
6 06 Bn NDRF, Vadodara Gujarat CRPF
7 07 Bn NDRF, Bhatinda Punjab ITBP
8 08 Bn NDRF, Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh ITBP
9 09 Bn NDRF, Patna Bihar BSF
10 10 Bn NDRF, Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh CRPF
11 11 Bn NDRF, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh SSB
12 12 Bn NDRF, Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh SSB
13 13 Bn NDRF, Samba, Jammu and Kashmir Assam Rifles
14 14 Bn NDRF, Mandi Himachal Pradesh ITBP
15 15 Bn NDRF, Haldwani Uttarakhand ITBP
16 16 Bn NDRF, Najafgarh New Delhi BSF

Functional Parameters

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The National Disaster Management Authority is tasked with building safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster and technology driven strategy for disaster management. The goal of the agency is to use a culture of prevention, mitigation and preparedness to generate a prompt and efficient response at the time of disasters.[13]

NDRF has proved its importance in achieving this vision by highly skilled rescue and relief operations, regular and intensive training and re-training, familiarization exercises within the area of responsibility of respective NDRF Battalions, carrying out mock drills and joint exercises with the various stakeholders.

Disaster Response

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NDRF has proved its efficacy with its commendable performance during various disasters including the drowning cases, building collapses, landslides, devastating floods and Cyclones. NDRF has saved 133,192 human lives and retrieved 2760 dead bodies of disaster victims in 73 response operations in the country. Some of the major response operations of NDRF as below:

2007

  • Flood in Bhavnagar, Gujarat – 3–5 July 2007 – Rescued 291 people; distributed 3,750 food packets
  • Flood in Rajkot, Gujarat – 3–5 July 2007 – Rescued 291 people; distributed 3,750 food packets

2008

  • Building collapse (Hotel Shakunt) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 3–5 Feb 2008 – Saved 10 people and recovered six dead bodies
  • Flood in Lakhimpur, Assam – 14 June – 20 July 2008 – Rescued 2500 civilians
  • Flood in Dhemaji, Assam – 16 June – 31 July 2008 – Rescued 600 people
  • Flood in Lakhimpur, Assam – 21 July – 4 August 2008 – Evacuated 2000 people
Rescue and relief operations during the Kosi breach in Bihar
  • Kosi breach in Bihar – 20 August 2008 – Saved over 105,000 people including women, children and the elderly; distributed medicines and water bottles
  • Flood in Lakhimpur, Assam – 31 Aug – 9 September 2008 – Saved 750 people
  • Flood in Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara & Jagatsinghpur, Odisha – Sept 2008 – Saved over 1000 people
  • Flood in Kamrup, Assam – 28 September 2008 – Saved 350 people
  • Flood in Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu – 26–30 Nov 2008 – Saved 773 people
  • Flood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 26 Nov – 2 December 2008 – Rescued 1550 people

2009

  • Cyclone Aila in North 24 Parganas & South 24 Parganas, West Bengal – 25 May – 10 June 2009 – Rescued 2000 people; distribution of medicine to 30,000 victims & food packets to 16,000 homeless victims
  • Flood in Barpeta, Assam – 27 May 2009 – Saved 300 people
  • Flood in Junagarh and Porbandar, Gujarat – 16 to 29 July 2009 – Saved 2225 people
  • Flood in Kasarkode, Kannur and Ernakulam, Kerala – 17–24 July 2009 – Saved 180 people
  • Flood in Sitamarhi, Bihar (Bagmati breach) – 2–9 Aug 2009 – Rescued 1034 people; distributed medicines to 831 victims
  • Flood in Howrah & Hooghly, West Bengal – 8–14 Sep 2009 – Rescue 675 people
  • Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka Floods – Oct 2009 – Saved 10,659 people

2010

2011

2013

  • Cyclone Phailin in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, etc. – The battalions of the army and navy were used to evacuate people.

2015

2019

  • At least 58 teams of NDRF were deputed in Kerala during a flood in August 2018 making it the highest-ever deployment of NDRF in any single state since its raising. As many as 194 people were rescued and more than 10,000 evacuated so.[15]

During the Kosi breach in Bihar in August 2008, which was declared a national calamity by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,[16][17][18][19] NDRF personnel actively engaged themselves in rescue operations and relief duties in districts Supaul, Madhepura, Araria and Purnia. About 780 NDRF personnel trained in flood rescue operations along with 153 high capacity inflatable boats and other rescue equipment were deployed in the flood affected areas. The swift and highly skilled operations of NDRF saved more than 100,000 people trapped in swirling waters of river Kosi.[20] NDRF personnel distributed relief supplies including drinking water to the stranded flood victims.[21] Medical camps were also established to provide medical care to the flood affected people. Impressed with prompt and efficient response of NDRF, Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar approached Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh for a NDRF Bn to be stationed in Bihar[22] and offered 65 acres (26 ha) of land at Bihta near Patna.

NDRF commendable rescue operations were no less appreciated during the 2008 floods in Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala and Assam.

On 25 May 2009 Cyclone Aila hit West Bengal. At least 94 people were killed, seven of them in Kolkata, over 4 million people were affected. More than six lakh houses were destroyed completely or damaged partially.[23] NDRF promptly responded to the devastating situation and 600 personnel of NDRF with 84 boats and other rescue equipment started rescue and relief operations at cyclone affected areas of district 24 Pargana North and South of West Bengal.[24][25][26] During the operations NDRF personnel rescued around 2000 trapped persons and distributed 50 truckloads of relief materials to the affected people.

On 1 October 2009, in the wake of worsening flood situations in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the governments of both states sent requests for deployment of the force for rescue and relief operations. NDMA mobilised 963 flood rescue trained personnel (including some deep divers) and 308 inflatable motorised boats from 05 NDRF Bns located at Arakkonam (Chennai), Pune, Mundali (Odisha), Greater Noida and Bhatinda and airlifted on 2–3 Oct 2009 in Air Force IL-76 and AN-32 aircraft from nearest Air Force bases and Civil Airports. The rescue personnel deployed in 04 districts of Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool, Vijayawada, Mehboob Nagar and Nandyal) and 04 districts of Karnataka (Bagalkote, Raichur, Gadag and Vijaypur) and immediately started rescue and relief operations in the flood affected districts of both the states.[27][28][29]

NDRF rescued tens of thousands of persons marooned in the floods in these two states and distributed over 40 quintals of food and drinking water. The medical teams of NDRF administered medical first response and distributed medicines to the flood victims.

On 26 January 2010 a five-storey under-construction residential building collapsed at Bellary, Karnataka with about 50 people trapped under the debris. Three rescue teams (102 personnel) of NDRF Bn Pune promptly airlifted to Bellary and NDRF personnel carried out round the clock operation with the help of search & rescue equipment and dogs for nine days. In the operation the NDRF managed to rescue 20 people from under the debris. The last person was rescued on the 9th day. NDRF also retrieved 27 bodies trapped under debris.[30][31][32][33][34][35] rescue operations in Kerala(2018)

2020

2021

2023

  • The NDRF teams were deployed in Assam to tackle the annual flood situation. The force carried out rescue operations, evacuating stranded people and providing them with essential relief materials.[38]
  • NDRF was instrumental in minimising the loss of life during the cyclone that hit Odisha. The force was involved in preemptive evacuations, search and rescue operations, and distribution of relief materials.[39]
  • The NDRF teams were quick to respond to the earthquake that struck Himachal Pradesh. They carried out search and rescue operations, helping to locate and save trapped individuals.[40]
  • The NDRF has been actively involved in rescue efforts in Bharuch district, specifically in Nikora Village. The force saved 105 people stranded in low-lying areas and relocated them to safety in collaboration with the civil administration. This operation was particularly challenging due to the water level being above the danger mark.[41]

Training

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NDRF personnel undergoing Heli-slithering Training
Flood Rescue Training
Search and Rescue Training
Training of Dogs by Swiss Experts
CBRN Training of NDRF Personnel

In the future, the key to efficient disaster response will depend primarily on the effectiveness of the training and re-training of Specialized Disaster Response Forces. With this vision, a detailed "Training Regime for Disaster Response" has been prepared by NDMA/NDRF identifying the specific disaster response training courses and devising a unified, structured and uniform course module as well as a syllabus for these training courses. The proposition behind a unified, structured, uniform course module and syllabus is that first the entire NDRF battalions will successfully attain these courses and subsequently the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) and other stakeholders will be trained on the same lines. The need for a uniformly structured course module emerged from the fact that if all the NDRF battalions and other ‘first responders’ undergo the same training exercise, the coordination between different stakeholders would be expedient and well planned at the time of any major disaster where different NDRF battalions, SDRF battalions and other stakeholders will be working together in close coordination with each other.

After its constitution in 2005, NDRF with its swift and highly skilled rescue operations has emerged as most visible and vibrant force of the NDMA. NDRF personnel are invariably trained in courses like Flood Rescue, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue, Medical First Responders, Rope rescue, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Emergencies; Dignified Disposal of Dead Bodies etc. NDRF personnel are trained in prestigious institutes like NISA, DRDO, BARC, CME, Army, Navy and Air Force as well in foreign countries like US, Singapore, China, Finland, Korea, Switzerland etc.

Training abroad

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  • INSARAG Asia-Pacific Exercise, China, 4–7 August 2006
  • OPCW Chemical Emergency Course, Finland, 21–25 August 2006
  • UNDAC Induction Course, Korea, 17–29 Sep 2006
  • INSARAG Asia-Pacific Exercise, Mongolia, 31 July – 2 August 2007
  • UNDAC Induction Course, Malaysia, 10–14 July 2007
  • INSARAG Meeting, Korea, 3–6 Oct 2007
  • UNDAC Induction Course, New Zealand, 14–16 Oct 2007
  • INSARAG Asia-Pacific Exercise, Switzerland, 17–20 Nov 2008
  • Management of Dead Bodies, Geneva, Switzerland, 4–8 Feb 2008
  • Singapore Civil Defence Academy, Singapore, 10–27 March 2008
  • INSARAG Asia-Pacific Exercise, Philippines, 15–17 April 2008
  • APCSS, Honolulu, Hawaii, US, 29 May – 27 June 2008
  • Advanced Search & Rescue Course, Florida, US, 1–5 Sep 2008
  • Chemical Exercise, OPCW, Tehran, Iran, 1–5 Nov 2008
  • INSARAG Asia-Pacific Exercise, Nepal, 21–24 April 2009
  • APCSS, Honolulu, Hawaii, US, 20 Aug – 22 September 2009
  • Bio-terrorism Table top Exercise, Montreux, Switzerland, 7–8 Sep 2009

Training of NDRF

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While the NDRF is being trained, re-trained and equipped as a specialist force for level three disasters, it is equally important to ensure capacity building of state police personnel who are invariably the first responders in any natural or man-made disasters. To ensure this, a two-pronged strategy is being suggested to the states: firstly, to train state police personnel in the basics of disaster management and secondly, to train at least one battalion equivalent out of their state armed police units as State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on lines of the NDRF. In addition to police personnel, the SDRFs may be constituted from existing resources of the Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. NDRF Bns and their training institutions will assist the States/UTs in this effort. The State/UTs will also be encouraged to set up DM training facilities in their respective Police Training Colleges and include this subject in their basic and in-service courses

Search and Rescue Training

Training being one of the most important attributes for an efficient force, the Government of India has recognised the recommendations of the NDMA for setting up an apex National Institute of Excellence for Search and Rescue at a central place like Nagpur to provide training of trainers and to meet other national and international commitments. Also a network of 10 outreach centres at the respective NDRF Bns locations are proposed to be set up.

Community-based disaster preparedness

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Demonstration of rope rescue techniques to villagers
Making an improvised banana raft
Demonstration of life-saving techniques to school children
Training the teachers of Pune University
Capacity-building programme of NDRF
Capacity-building of school children

Awareness and preparedness campaigns are key components of proactive approach on disaster management. In case of any disaster, the local population is the actual first responder. It may take some time for the district or state administration to mobilise rescue teams, including police and fire personnel. If the local people is properly sensitised about the precautions and preventive actions to be taken in case of any calamity, the loss of life and damage to property can be drastically reduced. Thus, one of the most important tasks of NDRF is to continuously engage themselves in the community capacity building and public awareness programmes, which includes training of people (the first-responders) and concerned government officials at different levels in the areas with high vulnerability. Along with community capacity building and public awareness exercises, NDRF is also actively engaged in area familiarisation exercises. Such exercises provide first-hand knowledge about the topography, access route to various disaster-prone areas, and the availability of local infrastructure/logistics which can be used in disaster response operations. The force has trained almost 4 million volunteers.

A pilot project on community capacity building and public awareness campaigns on floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters was organised by NDRF teams during June–July 2007 in 14 high vulnerable districts (Araria, Saharsa, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Supaul, Khagaria, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Munger, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Samastipur) of Bihar. In this project, 2200 volunteers and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) officials were trained by the NDRF. This capacity building programme was continued next year also.

In 2008, NDRF embarked in a big way on community capacity building and public awareness programmes in Bihar, which included training of vulnerable people and officials in various districts. NDRF carried out three-day flood preparedness training programmes for a month in 15 vulnerable districts (Bhagalpur, East Champaran, Vaishali, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Patna, Sitamarhi, Samastipur and Sheohar) of Bihar before monsoon season at district/Block levels. More than 15,000 village volunteers, local people, students, State Police, and also Central and State Government personnel participated in the programme.

NDRF also conducts regular mock exercises on various disasters like cyclone, flood, earthquake, NBC emergencies, mass casualty management etc. Participation in such exercises on the one hand improve the professionalism of NDRF personnel to tackle the real emergency situations and on the other provides an opportunity to interact with various State Government officials and to develop cordial relations with them that can be of great help during response to actual disasters.

As of 31 March 2010, NDRF had trained more than 6.5 lakh community volunteers throughout the country.

Workshops and exhibitions

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NDRF exhibition on disaster awareness at Arunachal Pradesh

NDRF Bn Pune put up an exhibition of International standard at TechFest 2010 (the annual International Science and Technology Festival of IIT Mumbai) and organised demonstrations on Heli-Rescue, Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue, High-Rise Building Rescue and Dog Show between 22 and 24 January 2010 aimed at generate awareness among the visitors.

TechFest 2010 was inaugurated by Gen N. C. Vij, Honourable vice-chairman, NDMA. This three-day event witnessed more than 70,000 visitors, 15,000 participants, nearly 2000 colleges and approximately 5000 members of Industry and academia. The force has put on numerous other exhibitions and promotional events.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
  2. ^ Parliament of India (23 December 2005). "Disaster Management Act, 2005, [23rd December, 2005.] NO. 53 OF 2005" (PDF). Ministry of Home. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ^ Aroon Purie (28 June 2013). "India Today Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie on Uttarakhand floods". Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  4. ^ NDMA (10 July 2013). "Members Profile". NDMA. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  5. ^ Disaster Management Division (2011). "Disaster Management in India" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 113. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. ^ Disaster Management Division (2011). "Disaster Management in India" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. pp. 107–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. ^ Press Trust of India (8 May 2013). "Govt sanctions two new NDRF battalions". Business Standard India. Business-standard. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. ^ "National Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence". MHA. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  9. ^ PTI (30 August 2014). "IPS officer O P Singh appointed new Director General of NDRF". Economic Times. PTI. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  10. ^ "About Us". Ndrfandcd.gov. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  11. ^ NDRF. "AboutUs". MHA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  12. ^ https://www.ndrf.gov.in/about-us [bare URL]
  13. ^ "NDMA". NDMA. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  14. ^ Suzuki, Satoshi (11 March 2021). "Since the tsunami: India and Japan are strengthening ties in disaster risk reduction and building resilient infrastructure". Times of India Blog. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Kerala floods 2018: NDRF launches biggest-ever operation in flood-hit Kerala; 58 teams deputed | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Rs 1000 cr for flood-hit Bihar: PM – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Front Page : Rs. 1,010-crore flood relief package for Bihar". The Hindu. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
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  19. ^ Archived 9 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Mishra, Ashok K. "NDRF men turn saviour for 1 lakh in Bihar". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012 – via The Economic Times.
  21. ^ "Unsung disaster force shines". Hindustantimes.com. 14 September 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Flooded Bihar to get disaster response force base camp – Thaindian News". Thaindian.com. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  23. ^ "Aila's wrath". Hindu.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  24. ^ "National : Centre sends National Disaster Response Force". The Hindu. 27 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  25. ^ TNN (26 May 2009). "Mamata stays back, to take charge in city today – Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ^ "Cyclone Aila hits Bengal, Orissa; 31 killed : Headlines Today Top Stories, News – India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  27. ^ "NDRF teams head for AP, Karnataka". Indian Express. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  28. ^ Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  30. ^ "Karnataka: 5 killed, 12 hurt in building collapse". Express India. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  31. ^ "Bellary building collapse: rescue operations end". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. ^ "Bellary building collapse; toll mounts to 10 | The Hindu". The Hindu. Beta.thehindu.com. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Video – Online Videos, News Videos Clips, Watch News Video Online from". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  34. ^ "NDRF Chief O P Singh rushes to Nepal; teams deployed – The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  35. ^ Bhattacharya, Aditi Malhotra and Suryatapa (25 April 2015). "Nepal Earthquake's Indian Casualties". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  36. ^ AVSK, Aishwarya. "Visakhapatnam: 6 dead after gas leak at LG Polymers, PM monitoring situation". The Indian Express.
  37. ^ ANI. "Centre will extend all possible help to U'khand govt to tackle flood situation, says Amit Shah". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Flood Relief Operations in Assam". Example News. 1 January 2023.
  39. ^ "NDRF's Role in Odisha Cyclone". Example News. 1 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Earthquake Relief Operations in Himachal Pradesh". Example News. 1 January 2023.
  41. ^ "Gujarat Rains: Narmada Bridge Closed, 105 Rescued by NDRF in Bharuch". The Weather Channel. 18 September 2023.
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