NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has expedited the process of raising a State Disaster Emergency Relief Force (SDERF) to ensure a quick, efficient response to natural and man-made calamities,The decision came after the recent Satya Niketan building collapse that claimed seven lives, news agency PTI reported.In a meeting between chief minister Rekha Gupta and senior National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials at the Delhi Secretariat, the CMO Delhi said on Thursday that they gathered the necessary inputs to set up a state-of-the-art SDERF team.“Following the instructions of chief minister Rekha Gupta, the process of forming the State Disaster Emergency Relief Force in Delhi has been initiated,” the CMO said in a post on X.The government said it was moving decisively towards ensuring that Delhi has its own trained, capable and rapid response mechanism in the event of a disaster, PTI reported.The chief minister also expressed gratitude to the NDRF team on behalf of Delhi residents for the promptness and coordination shown during the relief and rescue operation at Satya Niketan, the CMO said.Officials said on Monday said that the government was planning to strengthen Delhi’s disaster management apparatus by raising four battalions of the state disaster emergency relief force to tackle natural and man-made calamities.The need for a dedicated disaster response force has been felt for some time in view of Delhi’s large population, frequent accidents and vulnerability to earthquakes due to its location in Seismic Zone-IV.According to the plan, the force will be raised by pooling personnel from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, along with direct recruitment of eligible candidates, including ex-Agniveers.(With agency inputs)
