STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

Department of Police,
Uttrakhand

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1. Context

2 Objectives

3 Pre- Disaster Actions

3.1 Determination of Organisational Role and Responsibilities
3.2 Risk Assessment
3.3 Resource Mapping
3.4 Identification and corrective measures of sensitive sites / buildings / fairs
3.5 Organizing Capacity Building Trainings and Mock Drill

4 Guidelines for flow of Information and Response

5 Guidelines and Coordination

5.1 Response in case of No Warning
5.2 Response in Case of Early Warning

6 Activities to be Undertaken During Disaster

6.1 First Stage
6.2 Second Stage

7 Activities to be Undertaken After Disaster

7.1 Administrative Work
7.2 Discussion on the Operation

8. Suggestion

9. Checklist

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1. Context

Uttrakhand is an important tourist destination due to its topographical diversity and

state holds great significance from religious perspective, due to the presence of many
religious places. The state faces many challenges of natural calamities like accelerated
flood, landslide, earthquake, cloudburst, over-rainfall, etc. on one side and manmade
disaster like road accident and panic situations on other side throughout the year due
to religious activities. Police Department provides services promptly during natural
and manmade disaster in coordination with its two units - Fire Fighting & Emergency
Services and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Department has important role to
maintain law and order during the disaster and SDRF has importance in relief and
rescue operations. Department has to undertake many preparations for effective and
quick response during and before disaster. Guidelines for such preparations are issued
by department headquarter and state government. The Standard Operating
Procedure of the Uttrakhand Police Department (SDRF, Fire Brigade & Emergency
Services Department, Police Communications and District Police) has been prepared
by compiling these guidelines.

2. Objectives

The following are the objectives are to form standard operating procedures:
 To develop the clarity of work distribution and responsibilities among SDRF, Fire
brigade & Emergency services department, Police communication and district
police including from State headquarters of the Uttrakhand Police Department to
all its ground units (at police station level) in the context of departmental disaster
management plan.
 To maintain law and order during and after disasters
 To execute quick and quality relief and rescue during the disaster.

3. Pre-disaster activities
The following activities are conducted under the preparedness actions by the
department:

3.1 Determination of organizational role and responsibilities

General Police
 Director General Police will be Nodal Officer at the state level to command
general police, SDRF and Fire services. Under DGP, officer of Inspector
General (IG) rank will be Nodal Officer in each Wing (Police, SDRF, and Fire
services).

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  A Nodal Officer will be appointed by constituting the Disaster Management
Team at the department level to coordinate with other departments during
disaster.

 To manage the crowd during festivals, Circle Officer and Police Station in-
charge will be responsible to constitute task force at district and Police
station level and assign works and responsibilities among these task forces
and its members.

Fire Fighting & Casual Services

 IG (Fire) and Chief Fire Officer will be the nodal officer at state and district level
respectively, during the disaster. Keeping in view the information and
requirements, the Chief Fire Officer will nominate nodal officer among
different fire stations during the disaster.

 The Fire Officers will coordinate with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
and Police department in order to provide effective service during different
disasters. Additionally, they will coordinate with the Department of Drinking
Water for easy access to water supply during any fire disaster.

3.2 Risk Assessment

 The most sensitive blocks / areas of most disaster sensitive districts will be
identified by the month of March. For this purpose, the State Disaster Nodal
Officer of the department at the state level and the district In Charge at the
district level will be responsible.

 District In-Charge / Circle Officer will mark the cloudburst sensitive areas by
the month of May as per the warning of Meteorological Department's.

3.3 Resource Mapping

 All the police stations and Circle officer in charge of the disaster affected
district will identify the boats and other vehicles available in the area by the
month of April for safe rescue during the disaster A. List will be prepared along
with the name and phone number of the sailors and drivers, so that urgent
assistance can be provided as per requirement.

 Assistant Radio Officers will check the availability of wireless devices at all the
stations by the month of April and verify that all are all fit to work.

 The district-In charge / Circle Officer will keep the ambulances available in the
department’s latest by the month of April with all necessary equipment. In

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 case of unavailability of necessary equipment, they will raise the demand from
the district administration.

 District In-charge / Circle Officer and Commander will ensure that SDRF and
trained police personnel are deployed in the locations / check posts located
near the affected areas with the necessary equipment in search and rescue
operations.

Fire Fighting & Emergency Services

 Under the direction of Chief Fire Officer, fire-fighting machinery will be
supervised, defective machines will be repaired and fire-fighting vehicles will
be equipped with essential equipment. Old and torn pipes will be replaced
with new ones.

 Jal Sansthan is responsible for the maintenance of fire hydrant and water supply
for firefighting. The firefighter officers will ensure maintenance and availability
of sufficient water time to time for smooth functioning of fire hydrant from.

 Chief Fire Officer will inform Jal Sansthan and get the damaged fire hydraulic
repaired.

 Chief Fire Officer will prepare the root plan at the departmental level and
develop the implementation plan accordingly.

3.4 Identification and corrective measures of sensitive sites/

buildings/ fairs

Fire Fighting & Emergency Services

 All commercial buildings, hospitals and offices which do not have fire
protection equipment will be identified under the instructions of Chief Fire
Officer / Fire Brigade Officer and will be directed to take install fire safety
equipment.

 Chief Fire Officer will facilitate the proper arrangement of firefighting systems
in banks, shopping complexes, business establishments, hotels and multi-story
buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals etc. as per the National Building Code.

 Chief Fire Officer will work in coordination with the Forest department to
prevent the forest fire.

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 Under the guidance of the Chief Fire Officer, adequate arrangements for fire
safety will be made for the religious events organized in the state such as Kumbh
Mela, Kawand Mela, bathing fairs and four-dham yatra.

3.5 Organizing Capacity Building Trainings and Mock Drill

General police
 All staff will be trained in collaboration with National Disaster Response Fund
(NDRF).

 In collaboration with the commander (SDRF), District In-charge / Circle

Officer and Chief Fire Officer will organize training and mock drill at the
department level time to time to deal with the disaster and ensure
participation in the mock drill organized by the other departments (
Disaster Management Agency).

 District in-charge /Circle Officer and Chief Fire Officer will identify the
capacities of existing human resources in the department and work
towards preparing them with a view to counter the disaster.

Fire Fighting & Emergency Services

 Fire mitigation awareness week will be celebrated every year in the month
of April under the direction of Chief Fire Officer. From 14 th to 21st April,
Educational institutions and other government and private institutions,
villages, cities etc. will be made aware about the fire safety measures.

 Under the direction of the Chief Fire Officer, mock drill will be organized in
public places such as - schools, malls, markets etc. to prevent fire disaster
time to time.

SDRF
 The commander will train all taff on various prevention measures in
collaboration with NDRF.

 Under the direction of commander (SDRF), Village Head and other

enthusiastic persons will be trained at the community level, including
regularly updated information for disaster management.

 Commander (SDRF) will provide regular training to the children on disaster

management and rescue at school level.

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4. Guidelines for flow of information and response

The dissemination of information within the department will be from top to the
bottom level. Director General of Police of Uttrakhand will issue the information to
three units- general police, fire fighting and emergency services and the same
information will flow to down level respectively under SDRF, in the context of the
disaster.

5. Direction and Coordination

Determination of level of response during disaster will depend on the following

conditions:

5.1 Response in Case of No warning

If the department has not received any early warning in the context of disaster,
then in such situation, every unit from the state to the police station / fire station
under the department will start responding immediately based on the fixed
responsibilities. Nodal officer will direct all the three units for further action.

5.2 Response in case of early-warning

In case of any possibility of any weather related disaster, metrological department

will give warning to the state emergency operation center 48 to 72 hours before
and the information will reach to the Director General (Police) through the
emergency operation center. In such situation, the directive will be issued to all
the units to start discharging their responsibilities as soon as the disaster is
reported. Being the important part of Incident Response Team, Director General
(Police) will be fully active to deal with the disaster situation.

Determination of the level of operation/response based on intensity

The L1, L2 and L3 levels of operation will be determined based on the intensity of
disaster. In order to counter the disaster, planning also needs to be done on the
basis of above three levels. Based on the levels, the planning will be as follows :

L-1 operation
This is the minimum level of response and only a few people are required at this
level. The main tasks are to create plans and broadcast information. For example,
broadcasting warnings or planning related to some low level events etc. are
included in this level.

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 L-2 operation
During this level of operation, more persons more rescue workers are required.
The District Nodal Officer will conduct and coordinate all the operations under this
level of disaster.

L-3 operation
In the L-3 level of disasters, the activity and involvement of all the persons
associated with the department is necessary. This level is generally applied in that
condition when the time of disaster is predetermined and the intensity of the
disaster is very high. In L-3 Department will respond in coordination with the State
Emergency Operations Center in L-3 level of operation.

6. Activities to be undertaken after Disaster

6.1 First phase

General police
 The members of the formed team at each level under I.R.S. will be active
on receiving the notification of the disaster. They will contact to
Emergency Operations Center at the state and district level, reach to the
staging area, and send their teams to affected locations from staging area.

 On the basis of the instructions of State Disaster Management Authority, all

flood checks will be informed about the event of disaster.

 People will be made aware through disseminating information in the

disaster-affected areas.

 The Disaster Management team will follow-up about the instructions given
by the officer of control room.

SDRF
 According to the Commander (SDRF), Director General (SDRF) and Chain of
Command, the order will be received in respect to sending the teams for
the operation.

 Commander / Incident Commander will do primary assessment and

develop the Incident Command System by making the disaster area safe.

 Incident commanders will coordinate with other partner departments such

as Police, Health, Public Works and Food and Supply Department.

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  Commander will give necessary directions to the Deputy Commander/
Assistant Commander (SDRF) and other officers regarding the operation.

 The Commander will reach in the operational areas after releasing the
teams and conduct a successful operation in a planned manner through
guiding the entire operation.

 The company commander will brief officers/ staff and send the teams to
the spot by taking the order from the Command/reporting officers.

 The team leader will present the list of team members and related
equipment to their Command/reporting Officers before leaving for the
campaign.

 Team Leader will check all equipment and accessories before leaving for
the site and load all the equipment related to the operations.

Fire Fighting

 Designated officer will take action as per IRS in case of any fire incident.

 Fire department is the first responder of any disaster. The fire officer is in
charge of fire service vehicles, rescue vehicles, firefighting equipment /
rescue equipment maintenance and staff control at fire station. Fire
Brigade Officer will send the Fire Service units along with the vehicles to
the spot after getting information in case of any disaster.

6.2 Second stage

General Police
 Area officer/police station officer will be responsible for the safe removal of
people from the affected areas and take them to the camp.

 In coordination with the district administration, police station officer will

search the injured persons and send them to the nearby hospitals with the
help of ambulance equipped with first aid equipment’s.

 Police station in charge will inform the medical team regarding the
treatment of the injured persons under the instructions of the district
administration.

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  Firefighting staffs and district police will pull the trapped people and animals
through rope.

 The officer / police station in charge will provide security to the SRDF team
engaged in relief and rescue operations during the disaster.

SDRF
 Commander will establish coordination among the officers appointed in civil
disaster relief operations and other agencies working in the disaster.

 Commander/ Deputy Commander and Company Commander will continue

to keep the higher officers informed regarding remarkable and important
information during the disaster.

 It will be ensured that the subordinate staffs comply with and follow the
instructions given by deputy commander and higher level officers and
commander Company commander will send other teams to the disaster
area and make alternate arrangement, if necessary, during the disaster

7. Activities to be undertaken after disaster

The process and functions of various administrative departments after the disaster
are given below :

General police

 Departmental Disaster Nodal Officer will assess the departmental damage and
submit the list to the district administration within 4 days after the disaster.

 The teams engaged in disaster work will be engaged in normal routine work by
the station in charge.

 Police station officer/ Area officer-in-charge will investigate the devices and if
necessary, get them repaired and keep at the appropriate place.

SDRF

 Commander/Company commander will command and de-brief their high

officers and give necessary instructions for the improvement of the observed
shortcomings during the operation.

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  The DGP will be responsible for briefing the media about the work undertaken
by SDRF during the disaster.

 All team commanders will prepare the details of the assets found at disasters
site, make the voucher of the same, and deliver it to the district police through
the respective higher officials.

Fire Fighting & Casual Services

The firefighters will keep the tankers and fire hydrants filled with water under the
direction of the Chief Fire Officer after the disaster.

8. Suggestions

Fire Fighting & Emergency Services

• Provision of separate budget for the fire fighting and emergency services at
headquarter level

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9. Checklist

9.1 Disaster preparedness

(The district nodal officer will submit this form after filling up to the District
Emergency Operation center and State Emergency Operations Center).

Action Undertaken Yes/No Comment

The departmental district nodal officer has established the

system of communication with following persons / agencies
• DG (Police)
• State Emergency Operations Center
• District Emergency Operations Center
• All police stations under the division
• Disaster commissioner
• Fire Fighting and SDRF
•Forest department

The task force has been set up for the management of the
crowd at the district / police station level.

All fire stations in charge have been appointed as nodal officer.

Risk assessment
All sensitive development blocks have been identified.

Weather warning system has been implemented

Resource mapping
All the communication devices have been made available and
refurbishment as per requirement

List of all vehicle drivers, with phone number has been

prepared

All departmental ambulances are equipped with essential

equipment.

List of rescue teams, investigative teams have been prepared

All alternate routes have been identified

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The teams have been constituted for different places for
security purposes
• Transit Camp
• Relief Camp
• Animal Camps
• Affected Area
• Hospital and Medical Center
• Supply Depot
• Food Center
• Health Camp

Firefighting equipments have been set up in multi-story

buildings in all banks, hospitals, commercial institutions.

All hydrants have been inspected.

Coordination with Forest Officer has been established to

control fire incidences in the forests.

Organizing Capacity Building and Mockdril

All staff has been provided training on disaster preparedness.

Mock drill has been organized to deal with the disaster at the
department level.

Training of identified volunteers have been given on various

skills, such as swimming, climbing on hills and landing in the
ditches.

The children have been trained / educated on various

disasters, prevention and management.

During the disaster

Action Undertaken Yes/No Comment

According to the IRS guideline, coordination has

been established with all the parties.

Arrangement has been made for the protection of

the SDRF teams, medical teams and relief teams
engaged in relief and rescue operations.

All the arrangements have been made to protect

the goods/assets of the injured and dead persons.

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Barricades and clear mark of exit doors have been
made at Mela sites.

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