SDMA organizes life-saving, water rescue training programme

SRINAGAR, JULY 26: J&K State Disaster Management Authority organized life-saving and water rescue technique training programme here at Water Sports Center Nageen today morning in which over 150 local residents of all age groups participated.

Expert trainers, deputed by Commandant, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Bashir Ahmed Sofi and Commandant, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Ravi Kumar, imparted basic skills in Water Rescue Techniques, Emergency Rescue methods, including two hand-lifts, three-hand lifts, fire-man’s lift, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other rescue measures required to be taken in case of drowning or choking, use of improvised floating devices made of the material, readily available at homes, methods to save a drowning person, basic first aid etc. The NDRF team was headed by Inspector Sarwan Deep, while as SDRF team comprised expert trainers Aijaz Hussain and Parvez Ahmad.

Notably, over 150 locals join swimming classes at Nageen Water Sports Center every morning, which has been organized by Department of Tourism Kashmir, where certified trainers Riyaz Ahmad Wani and Abid Bhat, besides volunteers, including Mohammad Zahid, Sajad Ahmed and Yasir Ahmad provide free training to the non-swimmers.

Director, Disaster Management & Dy. CEO J&K SDMA Aamir Ali personally supervised the four-hour long training programme which started at 5 am in the morning and continued till 9 am today. Aamir Ali, while appreciating the conduct of swimming courses, assured that more rescue training programmes would be organized for volunteers at Nageen Water Center, to train more local youth for any eventuality.

“Rescue training programme is very important and we have been conducting these sessions across the State. We are happy that trained local volunteers are coming forward and teaching swimming to non-swimmers. We have witnessed many drowning incidents this year which could have been avoided, by imparting these essential life-saving skills to the general public,” Aamir said.

Pertinent to mention that J&K SDMA has already provided funds to Tourism Department last year, for the procurement of water safety equipment including Life Jackets and Life-Buoy tubes, which have been distributed to registered Shikara owners at Dal Lake, Nageen Lake and at Manasbal Lake. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar had also met these volunteers on Wednesday morning. Besides, on the instructions of the Chief Secretary J&K, the SDMA has provided Rs 5.00 Cr to each Deputy Commissioner, under the State Disaster Response Fund.