QRTs formed to tackle monsoon emergencies
The Delhi Government on Friday constituted quick response teams (QRTs) under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in all 11 districts of the Capital to ensure preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
As per the order issued under the directive of the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Divisional Commissioner of the Public Works Department (PWD), QRTs will be responsible for a prompt and coordinated response to emergencies, especially those arising due to uprooted trees and other monsoon-related hazards. The teams will remain operational till September 15.
“These QRTs will ensure timely removal of fallen trees and address other weather-related emergencies as directed by respective team leaders,” the order, exclusively accessed by The Tribune, read.
The order came just days after Delhi was hit by a rainstorm on Wednesday evening which wreaked havoc in the national capital, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and injuries to 11 others. The severe weather, accompanied by a sandstorm and heavy rain, led to multiple incidents of structural damage.
One person died after being struck by a fallen electric pole, while another lost their life due to a tree collapse. In separate incidents, a section of an old overbridge’s grill fell, injuring at least six people, and a balcony collapse in the Kashmiri Gate area left another individual injured while another balcony collapsed in Mangolpuri leaving four others injured.
As per the orders, the 11 newly constituted teams will operate in three shifts — 6 am to 2 pm, 2 pm to 10 pm and 10 pm to 6 am — covering the city 24/7 throughout the critical weather period to ensure round-the-clock vigilance and action.
The QRTs are expected to play a crucial role in maintaining public safety, preventing road blockages and minimising disruptions during the rainy season. Each district has been assigned a dedicated team, whose details have been listed in the order for immediate implementation.
