Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force

The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is a specialised unit of Odisha Police constituted "To act immediately in case of disaster which may be due to natural calamity or industrial accident" by a state home department resolution.[1]

Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force
Agency overview
Formed2001 (2001)
JurisdictionGovernment of Odisha
Minister responsible

Composition

Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is a force of 10 units. The manpower is derived from Odisha State Armed Police(OSAP) and Armed police Reserve(APR). They have been equipped with the necessary equipments such as cranes, generators, troop carriers, trucks, concrete cutting equipments etc. The ODRAF units can additionally use the requisite tools available with Govt. / Public Sector and private agencies for their operations.[2][3]

Deployment

These ODRAF units are located at twenty locations in the state based to cut down the response time for their deployment. These locations were chosen according to their vulnerability profile.[4]

S. No. ODRAF Unit Location Parent Battalion
1 Cuttack OSAP 6th Battalion
2 Koraput OSAP 3rd Battalion
3 Jharsuguda OSAP 2nd Battalion
4 Chhatrapur OSAP 8th Battalion
5 Balasore Armed Police Reserve
6 Bhubaneswar OSAP 7th Battalion
7 Paradeep Armed Police Reserve
8 Rourkela OSAP 4th Battalion
9 Baripada OSAP 5th Battalion
10 Bolangir Armed Police Reserve
11 Dhenkanal OSAP 1st Bn., Dhenkanal
12Koraput1st India Reserve Battalion, Upper Kolab
13Rayagada2nd India Reserve Battalion, Rayagda
11Jajpur3rd India Reserve Battalion, Kalinganagar
14Deogarh4th India Reserve Battalion, Deogarh.
15Boudh5th India Reserve Battalion, Boudh.
16Khordha6th India Reserve Battalion, Khordha.
17Koraput7th Specialized India Reserve Battalion, Upper Kolab.
18Ganjam8th Specialized India Reserve Battalion, Bhanjanagar.
19GanjamOSAP 8th Bn., Chhatrapur.
20Kandhamal8th Specialized India Reserve Battalion

Functional parameters

The aim of the ODRAF is to immediately respond to disaster which may be either due to natural calamity or industrial accidents. The units are trained in relevant response techniques and to act immediately . The forces are deployed on intimation of a disaster or warning of forthcoming disaster. The units mobilise at the request of Special Relief Commissioner/Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA)/ District Collector . Once deployed they remain under the command of the Superintendent of police of that district.[1]

Disaster response
Rescue work in Mahendratanya river in Gajapati.

ODRAF has proved its usefulness with its commendable performance during various disasters including the boat capsizing, devastating floods and Cyclones. Some of the major response operations of NDRF as below:

2005

  • Flood in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts, Odisha – 3–5 July 2005 –[5]

2009

  • Coromandel Express derailment.[6][7]
  • Odisha Floods – Oct 2009 - Relief and rescue .[8]

2011

  • Flood in Jajpur district, Odisha – Sep 2011 –[9]

2013

2014

2015

  • Flood in Odisha, August - relief and rescue operation[16]

2016

  • Deogarh Bus accident relief and rescue operation[17]
  • Bhubaneswar SUM hospital fire - Coordination of patient movement[18]
  • Chilika Boat capsize Incident - Rescue operation[19]

2019

2020

Elephant rescue incident

On 24 September 2021, an Odisha TV journalist died while another was critically injured when the boat they were travelling to cover the elephant rescue overturned due to the river current.[22] An ODRAF personnel also died in the incident. The elephant rescue operation was put on hold after the boat overturned. The elephant was eventually found dead after he unable to cross the river.

Training

The ODRAF personnel have undergone training on rescue equipment operations and maintenance. In addition they have been trained ate following specialised training.[23]

  • Flood Relief & Rescue Operation Training at Mukam Ghat, CRPF Training Centre, Bihar.
  • Under Water Diving Course and Salvage Operation at S.E.I., Kolkata
  • Basic Mountaineering Course at A.B.V.I., Monali, Himachal Pradesh.
  • T.O.T. on Disaster Management at C.I.S.F., NISA, Hyderabad.
  • Disaster Management Training at N.C.D.C., Nagpur.
  • T.O.T. Course on M.F. & C.S.S.R. at CRPF Training Centre, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
  • Flood Rescue Course at N.D.R.F., Bn., Mundali, Cuttack.
  • Rescue & Relief Operation at I.N.S., Chilika

See also

References
  1. Government of Orissa. "Government of Odisha , department of Home resolution , 2001, [7th June, 2001.]" (PDF). Government of Orissa , Department of Home. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  2. Ramkumar, M. (2009). Geological Hazards: Causes, Consequences & Methods of Containment. New India Publishing Agency. p. 151. ISBN 978-81-908512-7-5. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force". ODISHA STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  5. "India: Orissa floods situation report, 4 Jul 2005 - India". ReliefWeb. 4 July 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  6. "Coromandel Express death toll mounts to 16; probe ordered - India News". The Times of India. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  7. "Orissa mishap, Railways says only nine died". Rediff.com. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  8. "13 lakh affected by floods in AP". Deccan Herald. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  9. "Orissa floods: Nearly 800 villages marooned". NDTV.com. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  10. "After cyclone Phailin, Odisha faces flood". The Economic Times. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  11. "13 dead as boat capsizes in Odisha's Hirakud reservoir". NDTV.com. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  12. "Odisha on Flood Alert After Three Die Due to Heavy Rain". NDTV.com. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  13. "Odisha floods kill 34, affect nearly 10 lakh people". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  14. "Cyclone Hudhud: Andhra Pradesh grapples with aftermath, power restoration to take time". Deccan Chronicle. Press Trust of India. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  15. "Hudhud effect: Road link between Koraput and Andhra Pradesh restored". The Economic Times. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  16. "At least 81 people die in recent floods in Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha". Zee News. Press Trust of India. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  17. "27 killed as bus falls in Deogarh gorge, 10 hurt - Bhubaneswar News". The Times of India. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  18. Barik, Satyasundar (17 October 2016). "22 killed in Bhubaneswar's SUM Hospital fire". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  19. "3 killed, 8 missing as boat capsizes in Odisha's Chilika lake - Bhubaneswar News". The Times of India. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. Desk, Express Web (23 May 2020). "Cyclone Amphan: Protests erupt as Bengal reels under storm aftermath; Army deployed for restoration work". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  21. "Cyclone Amphan: 10 NDRF, 15 ODRAF units positioned in coastal Odisha". outlookindia.com/. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  22. "Odisha TV journalist dies, another critical, after boat to rescue elephant capsizes". Hindustan Times. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  23. "Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force. | Odisha Police". Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
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