State Disaster Response Force, Assam

Some of the major response operations of SDRF Assam as below:

• Incident Date - 1st September 2018

The Incident - Five members of the same family were victim of this tragic incident. The car had fallen into the Dikhow River, near Nakotonia Goan, Sivasagar, Assam.[11]

Search and Rescue operation: The rescue operation started on the very day of occurrence, by SDRF Assam team of Sivasagar. Public opinion snowballed and the operation became a joint team effort by the personnel from various agencies- SDRF, NDRF, Indian Naval Diving teams and Indian Army.

Result: The car & the bodies of the victims were retrieved on 5th Sep/2018. The car was first spotted by SDRF Assam team including ER Dilip Orang, ER Suren Orang and ER Pankaj Subba in extremely challenging and hazardous condition.

• Incident Date: 5th September, 2018

The Incident: A mechanized country boat carrying about 50 passengers along with 7 nos. motor cycles and 2 nos. by-cycles capsized and sank in Brahmaputra river near North Guwahati.[12] According to eye witnesses, the boat collided with concrete Pillars of barrage constructed by JAICA water project after the boat stopped functioning and sank in river just about two hundred meters before it could reach the shore near Aswaklanta Temple in North Guwahati.

SDRF Assam personal during search and rescue of casualties at Nimatighat boat accident

• Incident Date : 8 September 2021

The Incident : The tragic accident occurred when the private boat 'Ma Kamala' was headed to Majuli from Nimati Ghat and ferry 'Tripkai', operated by the state's Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department,[13] was coming from the riverine island. Three persons died when a private boat with 100 people on board capsized and sank in the Brahmaputra. SDRF ASSAM team quickly started the rescue mission and rescued almost 90 peoples.

• Incident Date - 15 May 2022

The Incident : Heavy rains in Dima Hasao district caused mudslides.Debris is strewn on railway tracks throughout the district.[14] The Barak Valley, one of the three major regions of Assam besides the Brahmaputra Valley and the North Cachar Hills, has been cut off from the rest of the North East due to the damage to rail and road infrastructure. SDRF Assam Team alone Rescues 1000 peoples.

• Incident Date - 29 September 2022

The Incident - The incident took place around 11am on 29 September 2022 when a team from the Dhubri circle office were on a visit to inspect erosion near an under construction bridge. A circle officer was reported missing after a boat with at least 28 people on board sank in a channel of the Brahmaputra River in western Assam’s Dhubri district.[15] While some passengers managed to swim to safety, others were rescued by State Disaster Response Force Assam (SDRF).

The SDRF Assam has been facing a major issue in recent times, which is the lack of infrastructure and equipment. This has led to a decline in the effectiveness of the SDRF in providing adequate and prompt disaster response services.

Infrastructure refers to the physical and organizational structures, facilities and systems that support the functioning of a disaster response force. The SDRF Assam lacks basic infrastructure such as adequate training facilities, storage and maintenance facilities for disaster response equipment and vehicles, and communication systems. This lack of infrastructure affects the ability of the SDRF to respond effectively to disasters and emergencies, as the personnel are unable to access the equipment and facilities needed to provide prompt and effective response services.

Equipment is another major concern for the SDRF Assam. The lack of essential disaster response equipment, such as rescue and evacuation equipment, communication devices, and transportation vehicles, affects the ability of the SDRF to respond to emergencies and natural disasters in a timely and effective manner. The absence of proper equipment also puts the lives of the SDRF personnel at risk, as they are unable to perform their duties effectively without the proper tools and equipment.

The lack of infrastructure and equipment in the SDRF Assam has led to criticism from the public and various organizations. The government has also been criticized for not providing adequate resources and support to the SDRF Assam, thereby hindering its ability to perform its duties effectively.

The State Disaster Response Force Assam, currently under the jurisdiction of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, has been facing challenges in effectively controlling and managing SDRF. All the officers of SDRF assam are deputed from Fire Service, Which are trained For Fire Emergencies not fully trained For Disaster Responses carried out by SDRF, which often leads to confusion and duplication of efforts during disaster response and relief operations.

In light of these challenges, there have been calls to bring the SDRF under the jurisdiction of the Assam Police. This would allow for better coordination and integration between the SDRF and the state police, as well as provide the SDRF with better access to training and equipment. This will help to minimize the loss of life and property during disasters and ensure that the people of the state receive the best possible disaster response and relief services.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel stationed at fire stations in Assam are facing a significant challenge in their line of duty. Despite being equipped with the necessary skills and tools to respond to emergency situations, the lack of proper training grounds & Small space in fire stations is hindering their physical fitness levels.

It is widely known that Rescue people is a physically demanding job that requires a high level of fitness. SDRF personnel must be able to respond quickly and efficiently in emergency situations, often in hazardous conditions. However, the lack of training grounds in fire stations is preventing these personnel from maintaining the level of fitness required to perform their duties effectively.

This issue is further compounded by the fact that CSSR equipment are becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring personnel to be physically fit to operate them. In light of these challenges, it is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that SDRF personnel are able to maintain their physical fitness levels.

Despite having three operational companies, most of them are still abundant in terms of equipment and personnel. The government must take necessary measures to improve the capacity of the SDRF companies.

One solution to this problem is to station SDRF personnel in police battalions and police stations. Police stations often have training grounds that are specifically designed for physical fitness training. This would provide SDRF personnel with the necessary facilities to maintain their physical fitness levels and prepare for emergencies.

Moreover, by stationing SDRF personnel in police stations, they would be able to work closely with the police, allowing for improved coordination and collaboration in emergency situations. This would help to ensure that emergency response efforts are carried out more efficiently, with the aim of saving more lives and reducing damage to property.

The SDRF has been facing a major challenge in recent times, which is the lack of manpower. In the population of 31,205,576[17] there are only about 500 SDRF Emergency Rescuers. This has led to a decline in the effectiveness of the SDRF in providing prompt and adequate disaster response services to the state.

The lack of manpower in the SDRF Assam is a major concern, as it affects the ability of the organization to perform its duties effectively. To address this issue, the government of Assam can consider recruiting personnel on deputation from other branches of the police. This solution has been successfully implemented in other states such as State Disaster Response Force Uttarakhand, State Disaster Response Force Uttar Pradesh, SDRF Odisha, SDRF Rajasthan, SDRF Gujrat, SDRF West Bengal etc.. where the government has recruited personnel from the police force on deputation to the SDRF.

The recruitment of personnel on deputation from other branches of the police can help to address the manpower shortage in the SDRF Assam. These personnel are already trained and experienced they can bring with them the necessary skills and expertise to the SDRF. The government can also provide additional training to the personnel to ensure that they are equipped to perform their duties effectively.

Recruiting personnel on deputation from other branches of the police can also help to reduce the workload and stress on the existing personnel in the SDRF Assam. This can have a positive impact on their health and well-being, as well as the quality of the disaster response services provided by the SDRF. Additionally, the recruitment of personnel from other branches of the police can help to build a strong and dedicated workforce for the SDRF Assam, which can improve its effectiveness in providing disaster response services.

The State Disaster Response Force Assam has been facing challenges due to a lack of proper remuneration for its personnel. Despite the crucial role they play in protecting the lives and property of the people in the state during natural or man-made disasters, SDRF personnel often receive inadequate compensation for their services.

Although the basic educational qualification to join the SDRF as Constable/ Emergency Rescuer is 12th pass in Science stream but they get lowest pay among all the state forces in Assam. The Grade pay of SDRF Assam is 5000 but other branches of Police such as Assam Police radio organization whose education qualification and selection standard is same get 6200 Grade pay.

The inadequate salary is causing significant stress and financial difficulties for the SDRF personnel, who are already working under challenging and stressful conditions. This has led to a high turnover rate among the personnel, making it difficult for the force to maintain a stable and well-trained workforce.

In addition, the lack of proper compensation is also affecting the morale and motivation of the personnel, which in turn is affecting the quality of their work. SDRF personnel are often overworked and underpaid, leading to burnout and decreased job satisfaction.

The State Disaster Response Force Assam personnel have been facing a major challenge in the form of lack of promotions and inadequate compensation for the risks they face on a daily basis. Despite being at the forefront of disaster response efforts, these personnel have been facing stagnant careers and a lack of recognition for their important work.

Since the establishment of the SDRF in Assam, there have been no promotions for its personnel, despite their hard work and dedication to the cause. This has resulted in a sense of demotivation among the personnel, who are often required to work in hazardous conditions and face significant risks while responding to emergency situations.

Furthermore, the lack of risk allowance for SDRF personnel in Assam is also a major issue. In comparison to other states, where SDRF personnel receive 30% extra risk allowance, those in Assam are not given any additional compensation for the risks they face in their line of duty. This disparity in compensation is not only unfair, but also demoralizing for the SDRF personnel who put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of Assam.

In light of these challenges, it is imperative that steps are taken to address the lack of promotions and inadequate compensation for SDRF personnel in Assam. The state government must take the lead in recognizing the important work done by these personnel and provide them with fair compensation and opportunities for career advancement.

One solution could be to introduce a fair promotion system for SDRF personnel, based on merit and years of service. This would provide a sense of motivation and recognition for the hard work done by these personnel. In addition, the state government must also consider providing a risk allowance to SDRF personnel that is on par with other states.