Una, 17 March 2026: The operation of the Himachal Pradesh Centre of Disaster Preparedness and Resilience in Palakwah is adding a new chapter to the development of the Haroli Assembly constituency. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, during the inauguration of this office at the Skill Development Centre, Palakwah, said that soldiers and civilians will be trained here for quick rescue, relief, and first aid in natural and man-made disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. The training will include modern rescue techniques, medical training (CPR), and mock drills, which will benefit Una district and surrounding areas as well.
After the inauguration, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated a one-day disaster training workshop organized by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) at the centre. He stated that by strengthening the banks of the Swan River and its tributaries, protection against natural disasters has been ensured in Una district through projects worth ?1,500 crore. The Swan River was channelized from Ghaluwal to Bathri in the Haroli area at a cost of ?922 crore, which helped control the river’s fury and enabled the reuse of thousands of acres of land.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that SDRF and Home Guard teams recently secured first place in a national-level competition. He also emphasized developing courage and confidence among children and raising awareness about disaster management. Commandant General Home Guard Satwant Atwal explained that SDRF is a capable state-level force that plays a vital role in protecting lives and property of disaster-affected people, rescuing trapped individuals, and providing food, water, and relief materials.
During the program, SDRF, Home Guard, Civil Defence volunteers, and Youth Disaster Friends who provided exemplary service in disaster management were honored. Fire, Home Guard, and SDRF personnel demonstrated earthquake response, CPR, and fire safety, training the participants.
Mukesh Agnihotri said that this centre will provide modern training to personnel to effectively handle challenging situations like disasters and will further strengthen the state’s disaster management capacity. The program was attended by Deputy Commandant General Home Guard Arvind Parashar, Commandant Home Guard Hitesh Lakhanpal, Ashok Thakur, Sandeep Agnihotri, Vikramjit Singh and other dignitaries, students from various educational institutions, Youth Disaster Friends, and local residents.