June 28, 2023: The police received a new type of training to combat natural calamities in India. Continue reading to learn more.
In order to carry out rescue missions more successfully during natural disasters, the Kodagu district police have started training police officers in rock climbing.
Kodagu district (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. It occupies an area of 4,102 square kilometres (1,584 sq mi) in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.
When the district experienced landslides and nonstop rain in 2018, 2019, and 2020 during the monsoons, notably in August, thousands of residents lost their homes and livestock.
Low-lying neighbourhood residents experience worry throughout each rainy season. According to officials, hundreds of peasants are moving into the homes of their relatives to avoid a potential disaster.
Over 100 police officers received training from the Kodagu police department this year so they can function well in the event of natural disasters during monsoons. According to Kodagu SP, K Ramarajan, "Along with police personnel, we are also using civilians to assist police forces during natural calamities in the rainy season."
Currently, training is being given to a team of 20 civil police and 20 paramilitary police officers in locations with stone mining areas that extend more than 120 feet below the surface. Ramarajan added that due to road obstacles and excessive rains, the police forces are unable to access rural locations during emergencies. The officers were assisted by locals in these circumstances since they are familiar with the region.
K Ramarajan described the training process as well. He said that police officers receive training to climb trees in addition to rock climbing. They developed their ability to go to hazardous locations and save people during disasters such as landslides and floods. Additionally, they have practiced moving on wires. He gave everyone the assurance that the police officers would deal with any circumstance and be prepared to protect people. To inspire the workforce, SP Ramarajan himself climbed the stone mining area.
Climbing altitude in uneven areas is a training process not only limited to police but also to soldiers. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) established its first mountain-war training facility in mid-2022. Its objective was to train the soldier in high-altitude fighting and survival techniques. Though it was not formed to combat natural disasters, the training process has similarities.