Nod for four more NDRF battalions

The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for raising four more battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at an estimated cost of ₹637 crore.

The aim is to reduce the response time, keeping in view the country’s vast geographic area, an official statement said.

“These four battalions will initially be raised as two battalions in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and one each in the Border Security Force and the Assam Rifles. Later, these battalions will be converted into NDRF battalions. Based on the vulnerability profile, these battalions will be placed in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Delhi National Capital Region,” the statement said.

The NDRF has been created in 2006 for specialist response during the natural and man-made disasters. Now, it has 12 battalions that have been deployed across the country.