Surat: The Surat district administration will continue its training and preparedness programme for civil defence volunteers, despite the ceasefire announced in the India-Pakistan conflict. A meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority(DDMA) was held on Saturday to review emergency preparedness.The volunteers are expected to assist affected citizens during emergencies by arranging essential services and providing rescue and firefighting support to minimize loss of life and property.“There is currently no immediate need for civil defence deployment due to the ongoing ceasefire. However, we plan to train additional volunteers to be ready for future emergencies,” said Saurabh Pardhi, Surat district collector. “We already have trained personnel in place and will expand our preparedness capacity.”Thirteen specializedcivil defence committeeshave been formed, each with a designated nodal officer reporting directly to the district collector. The key committee, headquarters services, will coordinate all operations, including identifying shelter locations, planning evacuations, establishing warning systems, and preventing misinformation.Among other committees is warden services, which will be responsible for recruiting and training civil defence volunteers, preparing their list, and ensuring they are ready to handle emergencies.Honorary officials and volunteers of the civil defense force will carry out rescue-related tasks. Firefighting services will handle fire incidents using stirrup pumps and fire equipment. The emergency services committee will arrange for medicine, blood, medical kits, availability of doctors, and emergency medicines to ensure prompt first aid for the injured during disasters.In case of a breakdown of communication during emergencies, the communication services committee will work on restoring it quickly, ensuring the timely delivery of relief material, and warning the public using messengers and sirens. Rescue services will be responsible for rescuing people from collapsed buildings and providing help to the injured.The training services committee will organize basic training for the public and training related to civil defence, while the welfare services committee will provide shelter and essential items to the homeless, finalize shelter locations, and coordinate with NGOs to prepare a database.Depot and transport services will prepare and provide a database of buses, earthmovers, and other vehicles to assist in relocation and transport services, while the mortuary committee will handle procedures related to the deceased, including last rites, during mass casualty incidents. The supply management committee will ensure control of price inflation, prevent black marketing, and make grains and other essentials available.The property protection services committee will work to prevent theft and looting from damaged properties, and the information management committee will counter rumours, prevent the spread of misinformation, and ensure that accurate and verified information reaches the public.
