In India, local authorities and State Disaster Response Forces are the first responders; NDRF is deployed for major incidents or on request from states. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) functions as India’s dedicated emergency response unit, created under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to handle both natural calamities and man-made crises. It functions within the framework of the Ministry of Home Affairs, having been formed to enhance the nation’s capacity to manage disaster situations effectively. It was established on 19 January 2006. Its inspirational motto reads “Aapda Seva Sadaiva Sarvatra” – reflecting their commitment to disaster … Continue reading NDRF’s 159,293 Lives Saved: Inside India’s Elite Disaster Response Force That Evacuated 864,316 People