Srinagar, Jun 18 : Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Thursday flagged off 45 specialised Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) deployed at 21 locations along the routes of the annual Amarnath Yatra and the holy cave shrine, officials said.
The teams, equipped with enhanced rescue and emergency response resources, have been tasked with assisting pilgrims and responding to contingencies during the pilgrimage.
Addressing personnel during the flagging-off ceremony, Prabhat said the threat of cloudbursts and landslides in mountainous areas has been increasing, making the role of rescue teams more significant with each passing year.
He said mountain rescue teams have been playing an important role during emergencies and disasters in difficult terrain.
The DGP recalled his earlier assurance to personnel who participated in rescue operations in Gulmarg and said accommodation facilities promised to them had been approved.
“I have received the list of personnel cleared by the SDRF and am awaiting the list from the district police. The list submitted has been approved,” he said.
Prabhat stressed the importance of training in handling challenging assignments and said there was no substitute for professional preparedness.
“Training is a fundamental requirement for any force and any challenging task,” he said.
The DGP lauded the coordinated efforts of various agencies involved in rescue and emergency management, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
He congratulated the personnel for their joint efforts in ensuring interoperability and coordinated deployment, describing the initiative as a first-of-its-kind exercise.
Officials said the specialised teams have been strategically positioned along the pilgrimage route to provide rapid response in the event of accidents, adverse weather conditions or other emergencies during the annual yatra.(KNS).
