Latest news with #NationalDisasterResponseForce
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
NDRF to commission cadaver dogs for disaster operations
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will soon press into service its first contingent of cadaver dogs who can sniff out the dead or human remains in a disaster zone, an officer at the agency said. About half a dozen such dogs have been under training at the NDRF battalion bases in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh for the last few months, they said. 'To train the special canines, largely from the Belgian Malinois and Labrador breeds, the force has procured a special scent from abroad that smells akin to the odour emitted by a dead body,' he said. 'For all these years, the NDRF focused on its mandate of saving lives. Utilising the golden hour of finding life during a disaster has been the guiding principle of the rescuers, and hence finding the dead or mortal remains was not a priority,' an NDRF officer told PTI. 'However, we have seen that the force is also part of operations where NDRF is tasked with retrieving bodies from under the debris, like in the aftermath of a landslide or train or road accident,' he said. 'Finding bodies or human remains is important to give closure to the families and loved ones,' he said. 'Hence, the NDRF, a few months back, embarked on its maiden exercise to train cadaver dogs,' the officer said. Another officer said there are hardly any such dogs in the state rescue forces in India, and those who have them, have had a mixed success rate. 'Their success depends on a lot of factors, including prevailing weather conditions, humidity, snow and the presence of other strong odours in the area of operation. Detection of the dead is harder than the alive,' he said. 'Training such dogs is a challenge as it requires a human body or body parts that are not easily available. Hence, a special scent that smells like dead human remains was procured for training the NDRF dogs from abroad,' the officer said. 'The dogs are expected to complete their training by the next month. After that, they will be placed with some specific NDRF battalions out of the total 16 spread across the country,' he said. 'Once deployed, we will get to know about the success rate of such dogs,' the officer earlier quoted said. Two cadaver dogs of the Kerala Police were deployed earlier this year in the aftermath of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse in Telangana, leading to the trapping of eight people. The same dogs were also used during the 2024 Wayanad landslides. The NDRF was raised in 2006, and at present, it has a strength of about 18,000 men and women rescuers spread across over 30 regional response centres.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
NDRF to soon commission cadaver dogs to assist in disaster operations
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will soon operationalise its first contingent of cadaver dogs who can sniff out the dead or human remains in a disaster or accident zone, officials in the federal organisation said. About half-a-dozen such dogs are under training at the NDRF battalion bases in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad for the last few months, they said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare Technology PGDM healthcare Digital Marketing Data Analytics MCA Operations Management Project Management Design Thinking CXO Data Science Cybersecurity Finance Public Policy others Product Management Others Artificial Intelligence Management Degree Data Science Leadership MBA Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details For training the special canines, largely from the Belgian Malinois and Labrador breed, the force has procured a special scent from abroad that smells akin to the odour emitted by a dead body, they said. "For all these years, the NDRF focussed on its mandate of saving lives. Utilising the golden hour of finding life during a disaster has been the guiding principle of the rescuers and hence finding the dead or mortal remains was not a priority," a senior NDRF officer explained to PTI. However, we have seen that the force is also part of operations where NDRF personnel are tasked to retrieve bodies from under the debris like in the aftermath of a landslide or train or road accident, he said. Live Events Finding bodies or human remains is important to ensure closure to the families and near and dear ones of the victims, he said. Hence, the NDRF few months back embarked on a maiden exercise to train cadaver dogs, the officer said. A second officer said there are hardly any such dogs in the establishment of state rescue forces in India and those who have them, have had a mixed success rate. The success of such dogs depends on a lot of factors, including prevailing weather conditions, humidity, snow and presence of other strong odours in the area of operation. Detection of the dead is harder than the alive, he said. "Training such dogs is a challenge as it required a human body or body parts which is not easily available. Hence, a special scent that smells like dead human remains was procured for training the NDRF dogs," the second officer said. The dogs are expected to complete their training by the next month and then they will be placed with some specific NDRF battalions out of the total 16 spread across the country, he said. This was one important canine tool missing in our arsenal. Once deployed, we will get to know about the success rate of such dogs, the first officer said. Two such dogs of the Kerala Police were deployed early this year during the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel collapse in Telangana where eight persons were trapped. These dogs were also used during the Wayanad landslides that took place in 2024. The force was raised in 2006 and at present has a strength of about 18,000 men and women rescuers deployed across the country as part of 16 battalions and over 30 regional response centres.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
NDRF trains dogs to detect dead bodies: First cadaver unit to be commissioned soon; fills gap in resue ops
Representational image 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo '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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Admin on high alert as Ganga and Yamuna continue to swell
1 2 3 4 5 6 Prayagraj: Water levels in both the Ganga and Yamuna continue to rise in Sangam City on Saturday, sparking flood concerns among residents. Over the past 24 hours, the water level in the Ganga increased by 74 cm at Phaphamau and by 84 cm at Chhatnag while the Yamuna at Naini saw a significant rise of 1.10m. On Saturday morning, the water level of the Yamuna at Naini was recorded at 82.63m, an increase of 1.10m in the past 24 hours. By 12pm, it rose further to 82.70m, continuing its upward trajectory, and at 4pm, the water level was recorded at 82.79m (+09 cm). Similarly, the Ganga at Phaphamau was measured at 82.61m at 8am, an increase of 74 cm from the previous day. By noon, the water level rose to 82.73m, and at 4pm, the water level was 82.84m (+11 cm). At Chhatnag, the Ganga water level stood at 82.13m in the morning, rising to 82.21m by noon, marking an increase of 84cm over 24 hours. In the evening, the water level at this downstream part of Sangam was recorded at 82.30m (+09 cm). Danger level for both rivers is 84.734m. These sharp rises in water levels have raised alarm bells for those living in the low-lying areas along the riverbanks, especially in regions like Phaphamau, Chhatnag and Naini. With the rise of the Yamuna, there is growing concern about a potential backflow, which could aggravate the flood situation, especially with water inundating several low-lying localities including Salori, Chota and Bada Bagahada, parts of Kareli, Ashok Nagar, Ganga Nagar near Rajapur etc. The road on both sides of the Ganga has been submerged in floodwater for over three days. People living in homes affected by floods moved their belongings to the first floor and stored ration and items of their daily needs. Although the situation at Buxi Band STP is under control, the authorities are keeping a close watch. The water level at this important STP stood at 82.79m at 4pm. The increase in water levels caused significant flooding in several areas of Prayagraj, especially in Jhunsi and nearby villages. By Saturday morning, floodwaters reached Hetapatti Road, and by the evening, the situation worsened, with the administration deploying four small boats to facilitate movement. Villagers traveling to nearby areas like Garapur, Sahson, Koraon, Meja, Mauaima etc, now face a 10-15 km detour due to the flooding. In addition to road disruptions, the floods submerged hundreds of acres of rice and vegetable crops, causing significant agricultural losses. In light of the growing flood threat, district authorities submitted a request for Rs 60 lakh in funding to the Relief Commissioner. The district administration, along with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), is closely monitoring the situation. Authorities are ensuring that all activities are being carefully tracked, and additional measures are being implemented to handle the rising water levels. "We have completed all preparations for the flood season. As soon as the water levels reach critical levels, relief camps will be activated, and assistance will be provided immediately to those in need. Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents," said district magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Amarnath Pilgrim Dies After Being Hit By Shooting Stone, Yatra Suspended
Jammu: The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Thursday due to heavy rain in the valley, and after a woman was killed by a shooting stone along the Baltal route of the yatra in Ganderbal district. Three others were also injured in a landslide along the route on Wednesday. This is the first time the yatra, which began on July 3, has been suspended from Jammu this year. A dramatic video of a mudslide along the Baltal route has also emerged, showing a large number of people stranded on the track. In the video, two devotees were seen being swept away by a muddy torrent. They were rescued by people on the track. Many people were also seen holding onto railings installed on the pathway to save themselves from the mudslide. The teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and their state counterparts, SDRF, were then immediately deployed to the accident site to evacuate people. According to reports, the Border Roads Organisation has started restoration work on the Yatra track. Officials said the yatra will remain suspended till the time restoration work is completed. The yatra is undertaken via the twin tracks - the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district that is shorter but steeper. Over two lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high shrine this year. Thousands of troops, paramilitary personnel and police have been deployed for the yatra, which is scheduled to conclude on August 9. The security arrangements come in the wake of a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists.
