Bhubaneswar, Aug 4 (IANS) The Odisha government on Tuesday announced that the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) will be designated as the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and steps will be taken to transform it into a dedicated response force with enhanced operational capabilities, infrastructure and manpower to strengthen disaster response across the state.
According to an official statement, the transformation will be carried out in a phased manner. The state government also stated that steps will be taken to have a separate battalion and an officer in charge who will command the ODRAF Battalion.
The decision was reiterated during a high-level review meeting on Odisha’s disaster management system and infrastructure, chaired by Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Tuesday.
The Minister emphasised the need to transform ODRAF into a professionally equipped and dedicated State Disaster Response Force capable of responding effectively to all types of natural disasters.
Reviewing ODRAF’s performance during the recent flood emergency, the Minister appreciated the exemplary services rendered by the force under extremely challenging conditions.
Officials said that as of August 4, ODRAF had deployed 59 teams comprising 674 trained personnel and 59 rescue boats across nine flood-affected districts.
The force carried out nearly 58 hours of night-time rescue operations, rescuing 1,393 people, including 852 men and 541 women.
The teams also evacuated 19 pregnant women, shifted six snakebite victims to healthcare facilities in time, conducted 25 emergency medical evacuations, rescued 213 livestock, and cleared 18 fallen trees to restore road connectivity.
Overall, ODRAF has provided 490 hours of uninterrupted rescue and relief services in the flood-hit areas.
Commending the courage, professionalism and dedication of the rescue personnel, Pujari said their exemplary service has significantly strengthened Odisha’s disaster response capacity and reinforced public confidence in the state’s preparedness to face natural calamities.
He stressed the need to enhance ODRAF’s operational efficiency through systematic capacity building and institutional strengthening. The Minister said the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025 mandates the establishment of a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in every state.
In line with the operational framework issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Governing Body of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has recommended designating ODRAF as Odisha’s SDRF.
Pujari directed officials to expedite the process and develop ODRAF into a dedicated State Disaster Response Force exclusively responsible for disaster response and management.
As part of the expansion plan, the SDRF Headquarters will be established in the proposed Disaster Management Building (Biparjyaya Parichalana Bhawan). The force will be strengthened with the addition of 10 new units, increasing its total strength from 20 to 30 units, which will be strategically stationed across the state to ensure faster emergency response.
The Minister further directed OSDMA, in coordination with the Police Department, to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) covering operational responsibilities, training standards, infrastructure, equipment, recruitment and human resource management.
He also called for detailed documentation of the operational challenges encountered during the recent flood response to strengthen future preparedness.
–IANS
grm/dan
