Mumbai: Better disaster preparedness this year, says NDRF

By Srinath Rao

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Looking back at yet another year capped by multiple disasters and accidents, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has noted a marked improvement in its preparations this time around. Before a crucial pre-monsoon meeting of all agencies at Mantralaya each year, the NDRF was armed with data that would help pre-empt adverse situations.

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The CDRF was accordingly split up and deployed across the city. “In our surveys we found a total of 284 flood-prone spots, of which the most were located in the L ward (Kurla West). The maximum number of dilapidated structures were also found in the same ward. So we deployed the CDRF there keeping those factors in mind,” said NDRF Assistant Commandant Ashish Kumar.

According to the NDRF, the BMC’s water management was also better this year, with rapid communication ensuring that assistance was rushed to areas that went under water. “We had a team specially stationed for two months in Parel because that is a critical and vulnerable area,” added Kumar.

While Mumbai did witness its annual share of water-logging of low lying areas, the NDRF says that reaching help to distressed areas was easier as a result of knowing what to be expect. “We knew all the high tide and timings beforehand and we were especially alert on those days. Apart from monitoring water-logging from the BMC’s central control room, we were also keeping a watch on CCTV cameras at its backup control room in Parel. In addition, the CDRF, who are all locals, kept relaying information,” said Kumar.

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