Srinagar, Sep 04 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir, owing to its fragile landscape and complex topography, remains one of the most disaster-prone regions of the country. From cloudbursts and flash floods to landslides and earthquakes, J&K has repeatedly faced natural calamities.
What is more alarming is the fact that the frequency and intensity of such disasters have been increasing in recent years, especially in the current year, leaving the local population vulnerable.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the frontline of disaster management in the Union Territory is the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)—the only specialised unit trained and equipped to deal with such emergencies. However, this crucial force today stands severely understaffed and under-resourced, raising serious concerns about its ability to respond effectively in times of crisis.
Currently, SDRF operates with just two battalions, one each stationed in Jammu and Srinagar; however, these battalions have witnessed no enhancement in sanctioned strength since their inception, despite growing challenges and in contrast, their manpower is far less than that of a typical armed battalion and pales in comparison to the capacity of an NDRF unit.
"Adding to the crisis, most of the existing personnel are over the age of 50, with little to no fresh recruitment taking place over the years. This ageing workforce is directly impacting ground-level service delivery, especially during high-intensity disasters like the recent cloudbursts that struck several parts of J&K," an official said. "In many districts, SDRF has only 20–25 personnel, a number too meagre to provide meaningful intervention when thousands of lives and properties are at risk."
The Commandant General of Home Guards, Civil Defence & SDRF has repeatedly highlighted the urgent requirement to strengthen the force. Proposals to create fresh posts and expand the force have been submitted, but the files continue to languish in the corridors of bureaucracy, he said.
During a review meeting of the Home Department in December 2024, the Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the urgent need to augment SDRF’s strength and called for immediate steps. However, the proposal remains stuck in the Finance Department, which continues to raise queries “in instalments”, delaying the process indefinitely, the official said.
Experts and officials said J&K needs at least four more battalions of SDRF to cope with its disaster-prone geography. Yet, the government has so far not even approved the creation of around 300 posts, let alone larger structural reforms, a senior official said. "This administrative apathy has left the force crippled, with its numbers dwindling each year. If the current trend persists, the SDRF could be left with only a handful of men in the next decade."
Ironically, while the executive and armed wings of the J&K Police have seen the creation of thousands of posts over the past decade, the SDRF has not been granted a single new post in its executive cadre, the official said, adding that this neglect has left disaster preparedness in the UT hanging by a thread.
He said the SDRF has the potential to save countless lives and protect property during disasters, but instead of being strengthened, it is being allowed to wither away. The issue, he stressed, requires immediate intervention from the highest levels of government.
The onus, the official said, now lies on the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister to step in and ensure that the long-pending file for augmentation of SDRF strength is cleared without further delay—(KNO)