Pune Boosts Safety with New Disaster Relief Force

Pune has launched the Pune Metropolitan Disaster Response Force (PDRF) under PMRDA to boost emergency preparedness. With 30 trained officers and ₹5 crore funding, PDRF is equipped for swift responses to disasters like floods, landslides, and fires—aiming to protect lives during critical golden hours across the region.

Mrudula Narale

Pune: In a major bid to improve emergency readiness, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has introduced the Pune Metropolitan Disaster Response Force (PDRF), a specialized force that will respond to natural and human-induced disasters in the region. The scheme will offer prompt relief to people hit by floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, fires, chemical emergencies, and other disaster situations, enabling prompt rescue and relief efforts. With an eye on saving lives at the hour of need, the PDRF is well on its way to becoming the pillar of Pune’s disaster response mechanism.

The PDRF has an initial complement of 30 trained officers, with a target to increase to 60 members, all of whom are on call 24/7 to perform rescue missions. These officers, hired on contract from the State Fire Academy, bring fire and rescue training expertise to the force. The government has released Rs 5 crore to set up the PDRF, which is outfitted with up-to-date equipment and vehicles, such as a 32-seater troop carrier bus, a tempo, and a pickup van. The fleet provides rapid mobility and operational effectiveness, allowing the force to respond quickly to emergencies within PMRDA’s domain, which covers high-risk zones such as hilly regions, old structures, dams, lakes, and highways.

Pune’s rapid urbanization has necessitated the need for a specialist disaster response team. The population of the region, with increasing industrial, commercial, and residential infrastructure, has made it more susceptible to disasters like building collapses, accidents on roads, and natural calamities. Although the PMRDA has a fire service department, the PDRF bridges the essential gap by ensuring that there is a specialized team ready to respond to any scale of disaster. In contrast to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which is conventionally dispatched for large-scale crises but could be delayed in arriving at the disaster zones, the PDRF is aimed at swift, quick response on a localized scale during the critical “golden hours” when prompt response can rescue lives.

The PDRF is prepared for various emergency situations, ranging from evacuations and relief operations in cases of floods and landslides to responses to chemical-related emergencies. To make itself effective, the PMRDA is investing in state-of-the-art training courses, state-of-the-art technology, and effective disaster response plans. The force will be operating in close tandem with district governments and police to establish a national standard for disaster management. With the integration of state-of-the-art resources and cooperation, the PDRF will be expected to increase preparedness, reduce response efforts, and enhance recovery rates in times of disasters.

This effort is a testament to Pune’s determination to protect its people in the face of increasing environmental and infrastructural threats. The vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, compounded by climate change and urbanization, makes it crucial for a proactive system of disaster response. The establishment of the PDRF is a step towards a progressive strategy for mitigating these risks so that Pune is better prepared to save lives and property. As the force increases its capabilities, it is poised to play a critical role in creating a safer, more secure Pune, prepared to confront the challenges of an ever-evolving landscape.