Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 7: Aiming to bolster disaster preparedness and ensure tourist safety in Kashmir’s lake zones, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), in collaboration with the Nigeen Tourist Traders Association (NTTA), today inaugurated three dedicated units at Nigeen Lake and Hazratbal.
The units, equipped with modern rescue boats and trained personnel, aim to provide rapid response during emergencies such as sudden weather changes, fires, and other natural disasters that frequently affect lake areas.
The inauguration ceremony, held at Nigeen Lake, marked the formal launch of the SDRF’s 1st Battalion Nigeen unit.
SP Hazratbal Hilal Khaliq Bhat presided over the event, joined by DySP SDRF Faisal Khan, DySP Traffic Suhail Reshi, SHO Nigeen Showkat Hussain, and River Police Nigeen Incharge Bashir Ahmad.
Key representatives from the tourism and civil society sectors, including NTTA Vice President Qari Zahoor Ahmad, RTSOI Kashmir Chapter President Peerzada Fayaz Ahmad, TAFI President Shahmeem Ahmad Shah, NTTA Member Yaseen Tumaan, and Dr. Touseef Bhat, were also present.
NTTA Chairman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo described the launch as a “fulfillment of a long-pending demand” by tourism stakeholders.
NTTA Vice President Qari Zahoor Ahmad emphasized the community’s role, stating, “This is more than infrastructure-it is about the community’s shared commitment to protecting lives. Safety must be the cornerstone of tourism.”
TAFI President Shahmeem Ahmad Shah praised the readiness of the new rescue boats and the consistent advocacy by NTTA. “This will go a long way in ensuring timely response during any emergency,” he noted.
Houseboat owner Yaseen Tumaan called the deployment a “crucial step” in light of increasing climate-related risks.
“With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, these SDRF units will serve as a much-needed safety net for locals and tourists alike,” he said.
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