Rising cloudburst, landslide threats demand stronger inter-agency coordination
Srinagar: Emphasising that preparedness and training remain the backbone of effective disaster response, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Nalin Prabhat, on Thursday said there is no substitute for readiness while dealing with emergencies, particularly in challenging mountainous terrain.
Addressing personnel from multiple rescue and security agencies during a joint training programme, Prabhat said mountain rescue teams are increasingly becoming vital as weather-related disasters continue to intensify across the region.
“In mountainous areas, the threat of cloudbursts and landslides is increasing every year. Mountain Rescue Teams have a crucial role in saving lives during emergencies,” the DGP said.
He stressed that rigorous training is indispensable for forces tasked with handling high-risk rescue operations. “Training is a fundamental requirement for any force and any challenging assignment. There is no substitute for it,” he said.
Recalling the recent rescue operation in Gulmarg, Prabhat praised personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) for their professionalism, dedication, and operational efficiency, describing their performance as meeting “global standards.”
He also informed the personnel that accommodation-related benefits promised to those involved in the Gulmarg rescue mission have received in-principle approval and are awaiting final inputs from district police authorities.
Highlighting the importance of coordinated disaster management, the DGP said individual excellence alone is insufficient unless agencies train together and operate seamlessly during crises.
“No matter how well individual forces are trained, without joint training for interoperability, the objective of jointness and coordinated response cannot be achieved,” he said.
Prabhat commended the SDRF for organising a joint training capsule aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordinated deployment during rescue operations, calling it a first-of-its-kind initiative.
Describing the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the country’s flag bearer in disaster management, he said other agencies, including police and rescue units, must adopt its best practices in training, equipment, and preparedness to strengthen response capabilities.
“We want to learn from NDRF’s best practices and further improve our disaster response mechanism,” he said.
With the annual Amarnath Yatra approaching, the DGP expressed confidence in the preparedness of all participating agencies and urged them to maintain high professional standards during the pilgrimage.
“I expect all agencies to uphold the same level of professionalism and performance that they demonstrated during previous rescue operations,” he added.
