A proud moment for Himachal Pradesh as the State Disaster Response Force (HP SDRF) secured first place at the National Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) Competition for the second consecutive year. A felicitation ceremony was held at Oak Over, Shimla today, where Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated the team and distributed appreciation certificates to the personnel for their exceptional performance and dedication.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “It is indeed a proud moment when a small state like Himachal Pradesh stands first in any national-level event. I congratulate the entire SDRF team.” He highlighted the crucial role played by SDRF, Home Guards, Fire Department, and Civil Defence during frequent natural disasters in the state, particularly in 2023 and 2025, when widespread destruction affected lives and property.
The event also marked the inauguration of the Home Guard Volunteer Management System, designed to enhance coordination and efficiency of Home Guard volunteers across the state. The Fire Safety Code 2026 was reviewed as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and public safety standards.
The HP SDRF team created history at the CSSR competition held at the 8th Battalion NDRF Campus, Ghaziabad, from 9–11 March 2026, competing against 30 teams from 27 States and Union Territories. Demonstrating outstanding efficiency and operational excellence, the team completed the challenge in a record 41 minutes, surpassing its previous performance. In the final rankings, HP SDRF claimed first place, followed by Uttar Pradesh SDRF and Andhra Pradesh SDRF.
All team members were honored with appreciation certificates for their remarkable contribution to disaster response and for upholding Himachal Pradesh’s reputation at the national level.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
