A temporary headquarters of the 14th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been set up at Nurpur. The battalion will comprise three units at Nurpur, Rampur and Baddi-Barotiwala. As per official information, 1,197 trained personnel of the ITBP are being deployed in the headquarters and the units are known as Regional Response Centres (RRCs), and 700 personnel meant for the battalion are undergoing special rescue training.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the battalion exclusively for Himachal with its permanent headquarters in Mandi district. The state government had in 2018 made a request to the Centre.
Baljinder Singh, Commandant of 14th NDRF Battalion, told The Tribune here yesterday that the temporary headquarters of the battalion had been set up at Nurpur where a small unit of 7th NDRF Battalion, Bathinda (Punjab), comprising 50 rescue personnel was already in operation. He added that 7th Battalion had been catering to Punjab, J and K and Himachal Pradesh but now 14th Battalion would be dedicated to HP.
He said as and when the state government provides land in Mandi district, the headquarters would be shifted there. He added that the NDRF personnel being deployed in the Baddi-Brotiwala area were especially being trained in rescue operation in natural as well as man made disasters. “Being an industrial hub, the NDRF personnel will be equipped with technical know how to meet the challenges of chemical and biological disasters. Every Regional Rescue Centre will have 150 to 200 trained personnel,” he said.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/ndrf-temporary-hqs-established-at-nurpur-291238