Delhi to Raise Its Own Disaster Response Force After Satya Niketan Collapse
Delhi will set up its own State Disaster Response Force after the Satya Niketan building collapse killed seven, with a battalion of up to 1,100 personnel proposed.
Delhi is set to establish its own State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta formally starting the process days after a building collapse in South Delhi's Satya Niketan claimed seven lives.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat chaired by Gupta. Those present included Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, NDRF Director General Piyush Anand, Inspector General Narendra Bundela and senior officials from several departments. NDRF officials briefed the Chief Minister on how such a force could be constituted.
According to the briefing, an SDRF battalion of up to 1,100 personnel can be raised in Delhi. It would function under the state government and, on its orders, move quickly to disaster sites for relief and rescue work.
Until now, the capital has depended on the National Disaster Response Force, the Delhi Fire Services and local police for specialised help during major disasters and emergencies. The proposed force is intended to cut response times, improve coordination between agencies and build the city's own capacity to handle emergencies.
Gupta said the creation of an SDRF for Delhi was long overdue. She noted that most states already have one and that a densely populated metropolis like Delhi needs it urgently. The system, she said, could not take shape during the tenures of previous governments, and her administration would now move ahead to reduce dependence on outside assistance and strengthen local capacity for immediate response.
The Chief Minister added that the aim is not only to act after a disaster but also to make Delhi prepared and capable of handling such situations proactively.
The move follows the Satya Niketan boys' paying guest building collapse, where relief and rescue operations drew on the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies and highlighted the need for a stronger local disaster-response mechanism.
It also reflects Delhi's exposure to earthquakes, with the capital falling in high-risk Seismic Zone-IV, as well as the threat of severe flooding and other emergencies that require immediate and specialised rescue operations.