Specially trained cadaver dogs will be included in NDRF; training is being given for this work

Now, in cases of disasters, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team will be more effective than ever to search not only for survivors but also for dead bodies and human remains trapped in the rubble. This is because for the first time, specially trained cadaver dogs are being added to the NDRF team, which will aid in locating people trapped within the rubble and dead bodies by smelling their odor.

According to NDRF officials in the matter, about half a dozen dogs are being trained for this work for the last few months in Arakkonam of Tamil Nadu and Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh. These dogs are specially of Belgian Malinois and Labrador breed.

Officials said that to train these cadaver dogs, NDRF has ordered a special fragrance from abroad, which is similar to the smell emanating from a dead body. The real dead body or organs are not easily found, so this fragrance is being used. Till now, the focus of NDRF has been on saving lives during disasters, but sometimes they are also used to remove dead bodies, such as after landslides, road accidents or train accidents.

An official also said that searching for a dead body is more difficult because it is affected by weather, humidity, snow and other smells around. This is the reason why very few rescue agencies in India have such dogs.

The training of the cadaver dogs is likely to be finished next month. Then they will be inducted into a few of the 16 battalions of NDRF that are present all over India. Only after they are posted, their success rate can be accurately assessed. Earlier, two cadaver dogs of Kerala Police were used in the Srisailam tunnel accident in Telangana and the Wayanad landslide.