Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), November 5 (ANI): National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Piyush Anand on Wednesday emphasised the need for "regular joint training, simulation exercises and knowledge-sharing" between the NDRF and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs) to strengthen their preparedness and coordination in tackling Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2nd National SDRF CBRN Competition–2026 at the 8th Battalion NDRF campus in Ghaziabad, Anand emphasised the vision of 'Team India,' highlighting that "all national and state disaster response forces operate with a unified mission of serving and saving the people."
He noted that regular joint competitions, collaborative training, and mutual knowledge-sharing between NDRF and SDRFs help bridge operational gaps, foster inter-agency coordination, and continuously upgrade technical capabilities to handle modern disaster challenges effectively.
Underlining the unique challenges posed by CBRN emergencies as invisible hazards without early warning signs, DG NDRF stressed the critical importance of rigorous, recurring simulation drills.
He explained that high-stress disaster environments require life-saving protocols and equipment handling to be deeply ingrained in muscle memory, ensuring that response personnel can execute rapid, precise, and safe rescue operations even under intense operational pressure.
The three-day competition, held from November 2 to 4, witnessed the participation of 19 states across the country in regional-level competitions. Out of 19 teams, eight teams of SDRFs from Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat were selected for the final competition.
Tamil Nadu SDRF secured the first position, followed by Uttarakhand SDRF in second place and Bihar SDRF in third place.
NDRF said the main objective of this competition was to enhance the operational capability, technical proficiency, rapid response and mutual coordination of SDRF personnel in CBRN emergency situations, thereby ensuring the safety of life and property during any disaster. (ANI)
NDRF DG stresses joint training, coordination between disaster response forces to tackle CBRN emergencies
