Disaster management: Shortage of boats hampering rescue operations

Vijayawada: The District Disaster Response and Fire Services (DDRFS) is facing a shortage of boats to take up rescue operations during the disasters like floods, cyclones and heavy rains.

The government has allocated only 11 boats to the Krishna district. During this rainy season, Krishna floodwaters inundated several areas in Vijayawada urban and Penamaluru mandals.

As per the estimates,0 the district requires at least 20 boats to meet the emergency during the floods. The department uses inflated rescue boats which are operated with the help of OBM machines. The boat has six crew members, two of them are drivers and four are assistants to participate in rescue operations. At least six persons can be rescued by each boat.

The department has taken up repairs of seven boats and they will be pressed into service soon, said District Fire Officer N Avinash Jayasimha. He said Krishna district unit of SDRFS has 220 well trained staff and they need more boats to take up rescue operations during the disasters