NDRF base comes up in Delhi, to fight bio, nuke threats

New Delhi: In order to respond to threats of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disasters, an elite NDRF team equipped with nuclear and biological combat gear has been positioned at the heart of the national capital. Apart from safeguarding the seat of power, it will quickly respond to dangerous threats to the local population.

Also keeping in mind the disaster vulnerability profile and high seismic activity in and around Delhi, another special team of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), in 24x7 operational readiness, has been based in South West Delhi’s R.K. Puram area recently. A third team to combat chemical or radiological leakage or attack incidents has also been based at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Senior home ministry and NDRF officials said a small team of about 30 personnel equipped with CBRN-disasters combat was stationed near the India Gate area sometime back. “The national capital area has all the protective mechanism against terror and other security-related threats but a specialised protective shield and response mechanism against CBRN threats and disasters was not available in the vicinity,” a senior officer said.

Hence, he said, a specially chosen team of some of the best NDRF personnel has been deployed 24x7 in this area that houses the Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan, PMO and other Central ministries and departments. The team, based in Jamnagar House, will also be able to respond to any CBRN threat to any public place or market area in Delhi at a short notice, he added.

Till now, the NDRF base in Sector-19 in neighbouring Ghaziabad was tasked with the responsibility of the Delhi area, whether to respond to a CBRN threat or a natural disaster like earthquake.

The 45-member team at R.K. Puram will respond to any disaster-like earthquake or big accident that takes place in Delhi. Both teams, the one at R.K. Puram and the other near India Gate, are vehicle-borne and possess essential equipment in order to respond to any disaster, the officer added.

He added that NDRF DG R.K. Pachnanda had made a request to the ministry of urban development to get land for stationing the special team somewhere in Delhi and the ministry readily made available a small plot in R.K. Puram.