Patna: In a major push to strengthen disaster preparedness, Bihar will recruit and train 22,000 young volunteers as “disaster friends” to assist authorities during natural calamities such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, fires and lightning strikes.
The initiative, led by the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, aims to make disaster relief efforts more effective and accessible across the state. These trained volunteers will work closely with district administrations during emergencies, supporting rescue, relief and rehabilitation work.
Currently, the state has over 9,500 disaster friends. With the new addition, the total number will rise to more than 32,000. Officials said that cadets and volunteers from the NCC, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra and Bharat Scouts and Guides will be trained for the role. After training, each volunteer will receive a three-year insurance cover and a deployment allowance ranging from Rs 450 to Rs 750, paid by the local administration.
The disaster friends will primarily be selected from areas near sensitive locations across Bihar’s districts. The state is highly vulnerable to natural disasters: 29 districts are flood-prone, with 15 categorised as highly sensitive; most districts in southern Bihar face frequent droughts; and 15.2% of the state’s area falls in Zone 5, the highest seismic risk zone.
