HP SDRF tops national rescue competition, but rising disasters remind of the bigger challenge
Shimla, March 11: Even as Himachal Pradesh continues to grapple with a rising scale of natural disasters, the state’s Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (HP SDRF) has brought laurels by securing first position in the National Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) Competition held at the campus of the National Disaster Response Force’s 8th Battalion in Ghaziabad from March 9 to 11.
The HP SDRF team finished first among 30 teams representing 27 states and Union Territories, winning the competition for the second year in a row. In a notable feat, the team also surpassed its own previous record, completing the demanding rescue drill in just 41 minutes, underlining its high level of training and operational readiness.
In the final standings, HP SDRF secured the top position, followed by Uttar Pradesh SDRF in second place and Andhra Pradesh SDRF in third.
The trophy was presented to SSP SDRF Arjit Sen Thakur, IPS by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan in the presence of DG NDRF Piyush Anand, bringing recognition to the disaster response capabilities of Himachal Pradesh.
However, the achievement also comes at a time when the frequency and intensity of disasters in the fragile Himalayan state have been mounting sharply. From devastating cloudbursts and flash floods to massive landslides and forest fires in districts like Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur, the scale of emergencies has often overwhelmed local response systems.
Experts say while the SDRF’s national-level performance highlights the professionalism and courage of its personnel, the ground reality of disasters in the Himalayas is far more complex, requiring stronger prevention strategies, better infrastructure and long-term ecological safeguards.
The back-to-back victory, therefore, is not just a moment of pride but also a stark reminder that disaster preparedness in a mountain state like Himachal must go far beyond competitions, as the real test unfolds during large-scale tragedies that continue to strike the region.
