People are seen protecting themselves from the scorching sun in New Delhi. File | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (May 14, 2026) said his government is working to reduce heat wave-related deaths to zero.
Mr Shah said this on Thursday (May 14, 2026) in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh during the President’s Color Award ceremony of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
He said the NDRF has undertaken the monumental task of training over 8,500 personnel, over 10,000 civil defense personnel; More than 2.20 lakh volunteers and more than 10,500 boatmen have also been trained in the last two years.
Sadly, the NDRF has so far saved more than 1.5 million lives and evacuated more than nine million people to safer places. The minister said that since 2014, India has not only worked to reduce the risk of disasters, but has now reached a stage where the country can move towards the goal of zero casualties. Wherever advance information about disasters is available through the forecast and meteorological department, the aim is to ensure protection of lives and property, he said.
He added that the National Disaster Management Authority has taken several policy decisions, issued a series of guidelines, successfully raised public awareness and gradually made disaster preparedness a national culture.
Mr. Shah said that NDRF is setting an excellent example by saving not only the citizens but also the animals living alongside them. According to him, the goal is to ensure zero loss of human life and minimal damage to property during disasters.
Published – 14 May 2026 10:58 IST
