Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated ‘Arjun Vahini’, a specialised disaster response squad, at Nabanna in Kolkata, marking a new initiative to strengthen the state’s preparedness for natural and other emergencies.
The newly formed force comprises 200 Army personnel below the age of 40, who have been recruited through the State Sainik Board. The unit is designed to bring trained military personnel and their field experience into the state’s disaster-response framework.
Arjun Vahini has been structured on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), with the objective of creating a dedicated and professionally trained team capable of responding rapidly to disasters and emergency situations across West Bengal.
The specialised squad is expected to strengthen the state’s existing disaster-management infrastructure by providing rapid response, rescue and relief capabilities, particularly during situations requiring specialised manpower and coordinated field operations.
The initiative assumes significance for West Bengal, a state that faces multiple types of disaster risks, including cyclones, floods, heavy rainfall and other weather-related emergencies. The availability of a dedicated response unit is expected to improve the state’s ability to mobilise trained personnel during critical situations.
The involvement of former Army personnel also brings specialised skills such as discipline, emergency response, teamwork and experience in challenging operational environments to the disaster-management system.
The formation of Arjun Vahini is expected to complement the work of existing state and national disaster-response agencies while improving coordination during major emergencies.
In essence, ‘Arjun Vahini’ is aimed at creating a specialised, Army-trained disaster-response force for West Bengal, strengthening the state’s preparedness, rescue capabilities and ability to respond swiftly during natural disasters and other emergencies.