7 days ago
Army's swift response saved people trapped at aircraft crash site in Ahmedabad: Southern Army Commander
Pune: Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth on Thursday said that the Indian Army's swift response and technical proficiency were crucial in saving lives during the critical early phase of the rescue operation at the Air India A-171 aircraft crash site in Ahmedabad on June 12.
Within minutes, around 130 personnel from the military station, including engineers, medical staff, firefighting teams, and quick response teams were mobilised, he said and added that the General Officer Commanding of the 11th Infantry Division immediately reached the accident spot.
"A prompt decision to breach the wall between the Military Hospital of Ahmedabad and BJ Medical College, which was struck by the aircraft, proved decisive in saving the lives of those trapped in the medical college complex," the commander said while delivering a lecture at a day-long seminar — 'Exercise Durg Vishwas' — at the College of Military Engineering.
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He said this provided immediate access to the crash site, enabling army teams to deploy earth movers for debris clearance, carry out rescue and fire suppression operations, and work closely with civil authorities, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Relief Force.
Moreover, the Indian Army is in the process of acquiring Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks, which have been standardised into six categories and are being centrally procured, the commander said.
"Southern Command will be getting five such bricks, each tailored to address specific requirements during disaster relief operations."
According to the commander, disaster management is not just a humanitarian concern but a core national security issue; therefore, responding to disasters has become an operational imperative. "Southern Command, which covers 41% landmass, including states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
It encompasses diverse and disaster-prone terrain, such as long coastlines, mountain regions, flood-prone rivers, and zones vulnerable to earthquakes, cyclones, and landslides.
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"Our 200 HADR columns are earmarked and kept ready to cater to the vast area of the command, and they are augmented with the Engineer Task Force. Last year, 30 HADR teams were deployed across various disaster relief operations, with the sappers playing a pivotal role in each," the general officer said.
The commander said they take proactive steps to foster coordination with civil agencies. Therefore, the command decided to have a military-civil fusion training node at key stations where civil agencies will be trained with the army across its limit, he said.
The Corps of Engineers emerged as a critical enabler, he said. "Their ability to restore mobility, build temporary infrastructure, assess structural damage, and support evacuation and shelter operations has proven invaluable.
It demonstrated its versatility in Wayanad in Kerala, in Pune in flood relief, and even in Myanmar."
Former Army chief General Manoj Pande, who delivered a special address, emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to handle any disaster. "It is essential to integrate AI and satellite imagery to provide granular geo-targeted alerts directly to the communities. Drones can be used for rapid damage assessment and delivering essential supplies to difficult terrains. Moreover, the army should train civil defence agencies to effectively handle disaster situations," he said.
Experts from the National Disaster Management Authority, NDRF, State Disaster Management Authorities, and key institutions involved in the national disaster preparedness and response framework also participated in the seminar.
