Odisha Upgrades ODRAF into State Disaster Response Force, Adds 10 New Units
The expansion is aimed at ensuring quicker mobilisation of personnel and equipment, particularly in disaster-prone coastal, riverine and interior districts
Bhubaneswar: In a major move to further strengthen its disaster management architecture, the Odisha government has decided to upgrade the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) into the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), reinforcing the state's preparedness to tackle natural calamities and other emergencies.
The decision was taken on Tuesday at a high-level review meeting on disaster preparedness and management, chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. Senior officials of the department, disaster management authorities and other stakeholders participated in the meeting, where the state's preparedness for the upcoming disaster seasons and long-term capacity-building measures were reviewed.
With this decision, the specialised ODRAF will be officially redesignated as the State Disaster Response Force and will operate under a revised institutional framework with expanded responsibilities, improved operational capabilities and enhanced deployment mechanisms.
To facilitate the transition, the government will formulate a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining the force's command structure, deployment protocols, coordination with district administrations and emergency response agencies, as well as its role in rescue, relief and post-disaster operations.
As part of the expansion, the government has approved the creation of 10 additional SDRF units, increasing the total strength from 20 to 30 units across the state. The expansion is aimed at ensuring quicker mobilisation of personnel and equipment, particularly in disaster-prone coastal, riverine and interior districts.
The state also plans to significantly augment the force's manpower, modern rescue equipment, communication systems, transport facilities and specialised training. The enhanced force will be equipped to respond more effectively to cyclones, floods, lightning incidents, landslides, earthquakes, industrial accidents and other emergencies.
Officials said the move is intended to align Odisha's disaster response mechanism more closely with national disaster management standards while building a stronger state-level institutional framework capable of addressing increasingly complex climate-related disasters.
Odisha is widely regarded as one of India's leading states in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Over the past two decades, it has earned national and international recognition for its efficient handling of severe cyclones, including large-scale evacuations, early warning dissemination and community-based disaster preparedness initiatives that have substantially reduced casualties.
The conversion of ODRAF into the State Disaster Response Force is expected to further enhance the state's disaster resilience by enabling faster response, improved inter-agency coordination and better utilisation of resources during emergencies.