Chief Minister Congratulates SDRF for Securing First Place in National Competitions

Shimla, April 26:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has congratulated the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for securing first place in the national-level SDRF and CSRR competitions organized by the NDRF in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Commending the team’s outstanding performance, the Chief Minister highlighted that Himachal Pradesh is highly vulnerable to various natural disasters, and in such situations, the SDRF plays a crucial role in saving lives, conducting rescue operations, and facilitating rehabilitation efforts.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening the SDRF by equipping it with the latest technologies and modern equipment.

The Chief Minister also directed the Home Department to establish a dedicated dog squad with the SDRF to enhance rescue operations during natural disasters. Additionally, he ordered the immediate recruitment of 700 Home Guards to bolster manpower.

ADGP Home Guards and Civil Defence Department, Satwant Atwal, expressed gratitude on behalf of the department for the sanctioning of ₹12 crore towards the procurement of modern equipment for the SDRF. She noted that the new equipment showcased during the Ghaziabad competition significantly contributed to the team’s success.

The winning team comprised 18 members from the Shimla, Mandi, and Kangra units. They first secured top position in the Northern Zone competition before defeating teams from seven states to claim first place at the national level.

Present on the occasion were Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chief Minister’s OSD Gopal Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Omkar Chand Sharma, and other senior officials.