Mangalagiri: Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has felicitated State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for their rescue and relief operations during Cyclones Arnab and Murasu, recognising their efforts in protecting lives and restoring access to affected areas.
At a programme held at the State Police Headquarters in Mangalagiri on November 9, the DGP presented rewards to personnel who had demonstrated exceptional commitment during Cyclone Arnab-2026. He praised their courage in reaching people stranded amid heavy rainfall and strong winds and carrying out rescue operations in difficult conditions.
According to officials, 11 special SDRF teams comprising 328 officers and personnel were deployed across nine districts between October 27 and November 1.
SDRF Teams Evacuate 341 People Across Nine Districts
The teams carried out rescue and relief operations in Bapatla, Konaseema, Kakinada, Srikakulam, Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR), West Godavari, East Godavari, Polavaram and Anakapalli.
Their operations included evacuating vulnerable residents, rescuing people trapped in dangerous locations and clearing roads blocked by fallen trees.
The reported outcomes of the deployment included:
- 341 people shifted to safer locations.
- Eight people rescued from dangerous situations.
- One body recovered during the operations.
- 728 fallen trees cleared to restore road access.
The personnel also undertook road-clearance work and coordinated with other emergency-response agencies to facilitate the movement of rescue teams and essential services.
Dial-112 Control Room Supports Emergency Response
The state’s Dial-112 control room also played a significant role in coordinating assistance during the cyclone-related emergencies.
According to reports, the control room received 369 cyclone-related emergency calls from 17 districts over three days. Its coordination helped rescue 53 people.
Among the reported incidents were the rescue of 40 passengers stranded in a bus amid floodwaters in Srikakulam and eight fishermen caught in dangerous conditions.
The SDRF’s field operations were also supported by other emergency-response personnel involved in clearing damaged infrastructure and restoring access to affected locations. The teams removed 31 electricity poles and carried out road-clearance operations at 58 locations.
DGP Calls for Better Training and Modern Rescue Equipment
While appreciating the personnel, Gupta stressed the need to strengthen the state’s disaster-response capabilities through continuous training and the adoption of modern technology.
He called for:
- Improving technical skills and proficiency in rescue operations.
- Increasing the use of modern rescue equipment.
- Organising joint training programmes with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and disaster-response teams from other states.
- Documenting rescue operations as case studies to record challenges, response strategies and lessons learnt.
- Developing a dedicated APSDRF website to share operational experiences and training resources.
Inspector General of Police (Operations) Ch. Srikanth (IPS: 2002: AP) and senior officers of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) were also present at the programme.
The recognition comes after back-to-back cyclones tested the state’s disaster-response arrangements, requiring coordinated efforts by police, SDRF, fire services, district administrations and other emergency agencies.
