Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has said that the Indian Army’s swift and decisive response to the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad is a testament to its evolving role in national disaster management. Speaking at a high-level symposium held at the College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune, Lt Gen Seth emphasized the growing significance of disaster response as an operational mandate for the Indian Army.
The symposium, titled ‘Exercise Durg Vishwas: Role of Corps of Engineers in National Disaster Management Framework – Risk, Resilience and Response’, brought together senior leaders from the Indian Army, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), state disaster agencies, and key institutions. The event focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination, improving readiness, and strengthening civil-military collaboration in crisis response.
Lt Gen Seth, who was the Chief Guest, said, “Disaster relief is no longer an episodic task. It has become an operational reality that must be trained for and seamlessly executed. The Army’s pan-India deployment places it in a unique position to act as first responder when civilian resources are overwhelmed.”
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Citing the AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad as a recent example, he said that over 150 Army personnel, including engineers, medical teams, firefighters, and quick reaction units, were mobilised within minutes of the incident. “The prompt decision to breach the wall between the military hospital and BJ Medical College, which had been struck by the aircraft, helped save lives of those trapped within the complex,” he noted. The General Officer Commanding of the local division was also present at the crash site shortly after the incident.
The symposium featured keynote addresses from Lt Gen Arvind Walia, Engineer-in-Chief, and Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member of the NDMA. Rajendra Singh, Member and Head of Department at NDMA, also addressed the gathering. General Manoj Pande (Retd), former Chief of Army Staff, was the Guest of Honour.
Lt Gen Walia detailed the capabilities of the Corps of Engineers and their growing role in national resilience, particularly in the face of natural disasters, industrial accidents, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats.
A press release summarising the event highlighted key takeaways including the need for integrated communication protocols among the NDMA, state authorities, and the Armed Forces; increased investment in training and disaster simulation; strategic pre-positioning of engineering assets; enhanced CBRN preparedness; and institutionalising lessons learned to guide future doctrines and training.
The event reaffirmed the Indian Army’s commitment to supporting national disaster response efforts through agility, engineering excellence, and seamless coordination with civil agencies.
