In a bid to improve the disaster response mechanism, ten quick reaction vehicles (QRVs) were flagged off by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Dikshit said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has set up a 24X7 disaster helpline 1077 to coordinate disaster response efforts.
Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) have been established at the DDMA headquarters as well as each in District Disaster Management Authority.
The DDMA is also working on transforming these EOCs with modern GIS-based Centres.
Delhi is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes and floods as well as human-induced disasters such as bomb blasts, acts of terrorism, fires, industrial and chemical hazards, floods, building collapses, road accidents, waterlogging and these ten QRVs will act in extremely minimal permitted response time in order to avoid any loss of life.
Delhi Revenue Minister Arvinder Singh said the Revenue Department plans to increase the number of vehicles upto 33 in due course in order to station at least one such vehicle in every sub-division.
The well-equipped QRVs will be stationed in each district and the headquarters in order to ensure immediate and effective response to disaster situations.
These quick response team vehicles are equipped with oxygen cylinder and mask, protective helmets, folding stretcher, first aid kit, rope, search light, shovel, integrated light bar with public address system, life detection machine, fire extinguisher etc.
Each quick response team consists of three volunteers who have been trained by experts from the National Disaster Response Force, civil defence experts and St. John's Ambulance services in providing first aid and rescuing victims with the help of state-of-the-art equipment available in their vehicles.
The vehicles have been equipped with wireless sets.
