The Delhi government has sought suggestions from the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and the National Disaster Response Force for establishing its own State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
The proposal includes inducting retired NDRF personnel to help develop a trained disaster-response cadre, rather than starting from scratch.
Consultations are underway with disaster management experts and agencies to finalise the structure, manpower, and operational framework of the proposed force.
The move comes amid growing concerns over Delhi's vulnerability to both natural and man-made disasters, including recurring monsoon floods, fire incidents, and building collapses.
The government is studying the functioning of SDRFs in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
The SDRF could assist in preparedness exercises, disaster-risk assessments, community awareness programmes, and emergency planning.
The objective is to create a permanent, locally available force capable of responding rapidly to emergencies rather than relying solely on external deployments.
