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NEW DELHI: After working in quake-ravaged Turkiye for 10 days, the 152 rescuers of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were looking forward to not just reuniting with their families that were understandably concerned after news of multiple aftershocks, but also to a bath in running water. For 10 days in a row, the NDRF rescuers, including the women personnel, had had a quick “drywash” with a moist towel before heading for an 18-hour workday amid dust and rubble, locating live victims and extracting bodies from heaps of fallen concrete.
NDRF Commandant Gurminder Singh who led the international rescue mission told TOI that bathing is a “luxury” in any quake-ravaged zone where water becomes a scarce drinking resource. “Even toilets were deep trench latrines made with a piece of cut ply-board, covered by a tent. A separate toilet was set up for women personnel. Wet wipes were used in place of water,” he told TOI.
NDRF Sub Inspector Shivani Agarwal, one of the five lady personnel who had volunteered for Turkiye mission, told TOI that ‘drywash’ and ‘makeshift toilets’ were not alien to her as she had served in Ladakh while in ITBP and also underwent jungle survival training. ITBP being a parent organisation had also prepared Sushma Yadav, mother to 18-month-old twins left under the care of her father in law, and Rakhi, whose mother-in-law looked after her 8-year-old son while she helped bring succour to quake victims in Turkiye.
The five women personnel helped one another get through any personal challenges while working long hours at par with their male counterparts.
Women personnel, NDRF DG Atul Karwal told TOI, were able to communicate better with the locals, particularly women and children. According to Shivani, “Women survivors approached us, insisting that we find the bodies of their kin. And when NDRF found the bodies, the women, though grief-stricken, hugged us out of gratitude,” Shivani told TOI.
Karwal said even though NDRF acted promptly in Turkey — facilitated by MEA that worked overnight to provide official passports to all 152 rescuers; ITBP which arranged winter gear to work in sub-zero temperatures; and MoD that deployed three C-17 Globemaster planes that took in 11 vehicles, enabling teams to head to the site soon after landing — there is scope to further cut the mobilisation time in future. “Like we can identify designated teams for international rescue missions and have them issued official passports. NDRF equipment boxes can be kept pre-packed for immediate deployment. We can focus on providing ready-to-eat meals (MREs) rather than setting up a kitchen at the disaster site, as finding cooking fuel is difficult,” he said.
Karwal added that NDRF was looking to induct more women, taking their strength from the current 250 to over 1,700, and deploy them not only for rescue duties but also make use of their soft skills and better communication with victims.
By the end of Mission ‘Operation Dost’ — during which NDRF personnel saved lives of two young girls and retrieved 85 bodies — the rescuers had earned enough goodwill and appreciation for the locals to seek their badges, combat patches and even military decorations as mementos. The NDRF personnel happily obliged and received in exchange uniform badges from other rescue personnel and small gifts like keychains from civilians. NDRF rescuer Vipin Pratap Singh said that NDRF teams also left behind all their items — rations, clothing, blankets, provisions etc — for the victims.
The warmth shown by locals transcended barriers like language, religion and even food choices. Ahmed, a local who lost his family in the quake, turned up day-after-day to hand over vegetarian items to NDRF deputy commandant Deepak, a vegetarian. Presidential pilot Ali Altiok gave standing orders to the airport cafeteria staff to ensure that nobody from “Hindistan” goes hungry.
Last but not the least, the six NDRF rescue dogs — Julie, Romeo, Rambo, Honey, Bob and Roxy — worked long hours alongside their human colleagues and sniffed out the two victims found live. “Unlike most rescue dogs, they are rewarded not with edible treats but playtime with the NDRF personnel,” said Gurminder Singh.
NDRF Commandant Gurminder Singh who led the international rescue mission told TOI that bathing is a “luxury” in any quake-ravaged zone where water becomes a scarce drinking resource. “Even toilets were deep trench latrines made with a piece of cut ply-board, covered by a tent. A separate toilet was set up for women personnel. Wet wipes were used in place of water,” he told TOI.
NDRF Sub Inspector Shivani Agarwal, one of the five lady personnel who had volunteered for Turkiye mission, told TOI that ‘drywash’ and ‘makeshift toilets’ were not alien to her as she had served in Ladakh while in ITBP and also underwent jungle survival training. ITBP being a parent organisation had also prepared Sushma Yadav, mother to 18-month-old twins left under the care of her father in law, and Rakhi, whose mother-in-law looked after her 8-year-old son while she helped bring succour to quake victims in Turkiye.
The five women personnel helped one another get through any personal challenges while working long hours at par with their male counterparts.
Women personnel, NDRF DG Atul Karwal told TOI, were able to communicate better with the locals, particularly women and children. According to Shivani, “Women survivors approached us, insisting that we find the bodies of their kin. And when NDRF found the bodies, the women, though grief-stricken, hugged us out of gratitude,” Shivani told TOI.
Karwal said even though NDRF acted promptly in Turkey — facilitated by MEA that worked overnight to provide official passports to all 152 rescuers; ITBP which arranged winter gear to work in sub-zero temperatures; and MoD that deployed three C-17 Globemaster planes that took in 11 vehicles, enabling teams to head to the site soon after landing — there is scope to further cut the mobilisation time in future. “Like we can identify designated teams for international rescue missions and have them issued official passports. NDRF equipment boxes can be kept pre-packed for immediate deployment. We can focus on providing ready-to-eat meals (MREs) rather than setting up a kitchen at the disaster site, as finding cooking fuel is difficult,” he said.
Karwal added that NDRF was looking to induct more women, taking their strength from the current 250 to over 1,700, and deploy them not only for rescue duties but also make use of their soft skills and better communication with victims.
By the end of Mission ‘Operation Dost’ — during which NDRF personnel saved lives of two young girls and retrieved 85 bodies — the rescuers had earned enough goodwill and appreciation for the locals to seek their badges, combat patches and even military decorations as mementos. The NDRF personnel happily obliged and received in exchange uniform badges from other rescue personnel and small gifts like keychains from civilians. NDRF rescuer Vipin Pratap Singh said that NDRF teams also left behind all their items — rations, clothing, blankets, provisions etc — for the victims.
The warmth shown by locals transcended barriers like language, religion and even food choices. Ahmed, a local who lost his family in the quake, turned up day-after-day to hand over vegetarian items to NDRF deputy commandant Deepak, a vegetarian. Presidential pilot Ali Altiok gave standing orders to the airport cafeteria staff to ensure that nobody from “Hindistan” goes hungry.
Last but not the least, the six NDRF rescue dogs — Julie, Romeo, Rambo, Honey, Bob and Roxy — worked long hours alongside their human colleagues and sniffed out the two victims found live. “Unlike most rescue dogs, they are rewarded not with edible treats but playtime with the NDRF personnel,” said Gurminder Singh.
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