The Delhi government has initiated the process of setting up a State Disaster Emergency Relief Force (SDERF) to strengthen the Capital’s disaster preparedness and response, following directions from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, officials said on Thursday.
During a meeting with senior NDRF officials at the Delhi Secretariat, government officials sought inputs on the proposed SDERF, which is expected to have trained personnel and specialised capabilities for rapid disaster response. The decision is part of a wider safety push by the Delhi government following the collapse. Authorities have ordered inspections of buildings and PG accommodations, while action has also been initiated against officials and others found responsible for lapses.
Officials had said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has finalised basic operational details of the force and shared its recommendations with the home department of the Delhi government.Every battalion is likely to consist of two to three companies, with 70 personnel each. The government had also said they nearly finalised a 19-acre site in Alipur for the headquarters of the proposed State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), adding that a final approval from higher authorities is pending.
“The initiative is aimed at giving Delhi its own dedicated emergency response mechanism rather than relying primarily on central disaster-response teams,” said a post on X from the Chief Minister’s Office. The government said the proposed force would help ensure quicker mobilisation, better inter-agency coordination and a more effective response during building collapses and other disasters.
