Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday inaugurated the new State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) headquarters in Bihta, Patna, marking a major step towards strengthening the state’s disaster management capacity.
The Rs 300 crore facility, spread over a large campus, includes a four-storey administrative block, a three-storey training centre with smart classrooms, a library, and a computer lab, as well as storage facilities for boats and other disaster-response equipment. The complex also provides residential accommodation for SDRF personnel.
The SDRF, set up to carry out search, rescue, and relief operations during floods, fires, earthquakes, cyclones, and river drownings, has long faced challenges due to the absence of a dedicated headquarters. Personnel often had to travel outside Bihar for training and struggled with limited facilities.
The foundation stone for the Bihta campus was laid by Nitish Kumar in April 2023, with the chief minister personally monitoring its progress. During an inspection in July this year, he instructed officials to expedite work, install rooftop solar panels, and improve campus access roads.
At the inauguration, the chief minister inspected the campus and its modern infrastructure. Officials said the headquarters is designed to address training and operational gaps, with specialised facilities for deep diving and disaster simulations.
