NDRF trains dogs to detect dead bodies: First cadaver unit to be commissioned soon; fills gap in resue ops
NEW DELHI: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is training the first set of cadaver dogs specifically to detect dead bodies or human remains during rescue operations.
About six dogs, mostly Belgian Malinois and Labradors, have been undergoing training for the last few months at NDRF bases in Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu) and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).
Unlike regular sniffer dogs used for locating survivors, these dogs are being prepared for finding the dead.
To train them, the force has imported a special synthetic scent that mimics the odour of human decomposition. A senior NDRF official explained that until now, the focus was always on the 'golden hour' of saving lives. Retrieving bodies was never a formal part of training. 'NDRF personnel are tasked to retrieve bodies from under the debris like in the aftermath of a landslide or train or road accident,' an officer said to news agency PTI.
Another official points out that few state rescue teams in India currently have cadaver dogs, and even where they exist, success has varied. Weather, humidity, snow and strong smells can all affect a dog's ability to detect remains. Also, training requires actual body material, which is very difficult to obtain legally or ethically, That's why the special scent was brought in from abroad.
These cadaver dogs are expected to complete their training by next month and will then be attached to selected NDRF battalions across the country.
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by Taboola
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'This was a missing tool in our response arsenal. Once the dogs are deployed, we will better understand their effectiveness,' the officer said.
Earlier this year, cadaver dogs from the Kerala Police were used during the Srisailam tunnel collapse in Telangana and the Wayanad landslides in 2024—highlighting how this skill can be a crucial part of search and rescue.
Globally, cadaver dogs have proven remarkably effective. According to the American Kennel Club, they've located remains decades after death, even from skeletonised bodies buried underground. This is due to their 200–300 million scent receptors—compared to just six million in humans.
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