Personnel kept standby in all provinces to fight disaster: APF

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 15: The Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal has kept all its manpower and necessary equipment in a ready position for the reduction and rescue of possible monsoon disasters. 

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shailendra Thapa, who is also the assistant spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, manpower and equipment required for the disaster control and rescue works have been deployed in all seven provinces. 

The Armed Police Force has kept 13 heavy equipment including dozers and loaders in a ready position in the provinces along with the APF headquarters.

Such equipment and manpower have been deployed and kept in a standby position in the APF Headquarters, Halchowk, No. 1 Barah Brigade Sunsari of Kosi Province, No. 6 Maheshwari Brigade, Surkhet, No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade, Kailali, the Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar, No. 20 Disaster Rescue Valley Battalion, Kathmandu and No. 24 Kalika Battalion, Kaski.

In 44 APF units of 31 districts from Sunsari in Koshi Province to Darchula in Sudurpaschim Province, altogether 117 motorboats and raft-boats have been deployed, and 33 Disaster Relief System (DRS) containers have been kept in readiness in 17 Armed Police Force units of 14 districts, Thapa said.

Similarly, eight ‘A’ class disaster collective rescue ambulances, and personnel have been planned in the No. 1 Barah Brigade Sunsari, No. 2 Chinnamasta Brigade Mahottari, No. 4 Muktinath Brigade Kaski, No. 5 Bindhwasini Rupandehi, No. 6 Maheshwari Brigade, Surkhet, No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade, Kailali, Disaster Management Training Academy Kurintar and No. 20 Disaster Rescue Valley Battalion accordingly. 

According to DSP Thapa, one ‘A’ class ambulance each has been sent to No. 1 Barah Brigade Mahottari, No. 2 Chinnamasta Brigade Mahottari, No. 4 Muktinath Brigade Kaski, No. 6 Maheshwari Brigade Surkhet, No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade Kailali, Nepal APF Hospital Balambu, Regional Hospital Banke and Disaster Management Training School, Kurintar for anytime mobilisation.  

Deep divers trained in the disaster management training school in Kurintar along with necessary equipment have also been deployed at all Brigade Headquarters of the Armed Police Forces in the seven provinces, DSP Thapa said. 

For monsoon disaster preparedness, risk reduction and rescue, the APF has prepared one platoon each in all seven Brigade Headquarters, one platoon in No. 9 Pashupatinath Brigade, one platoon each in 10 training schools, one platoon each in all Battalions, and one section each in Company and other units with necessary materials. There will be six to 20 forces in a section, 20 to 50 forces in a platoon and 100 to 250 forces in a Company.

Also, in case of damage to the water sources due to flood, the APF teams have kept Deep Tube wells in seven locations in the Valley, two in Kaski, one in Bardaghat, and one each in Banke and Kailali for immediate water resource management. 

In case of any trouble, the Headquarters has also requested the public to dial the free hotline number 1114 and report to the nearest units.