Mathura, June 17, 2026:<\/strong> In an important step toward strengthening river safety and disaster preparedness, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted a special one-day training programme for civil boatmen and divers in Mathura under the supervision of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).<\/p>\n The programme was organized by the 8th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Ghaziabad, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The initiative focused on enhancing the skills of local boat operators and divers involved in activities along the Yamuna River.<\/p>\n Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh<\/strong>, who inaugurated the programme, urged boatmen and divers to place the safety of passengers, pilgrims, tourists and visitors above all else.<\/p>\n Addressing participants, the District Magistrate said Mathura’s location along the Yamuna River makes the district particularly vulnerable to water-related emergencies. He noted that trained boatmen and divers can play a critical role during floods, drowning incidents, boat accidents and other water-based emergencies.<\/p>\n “The safety of passengers, guests and visitors should always be your highest priority,” the District Magistrate told participants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The training programme was conducted under the guidance of senior officers from the 8th Battalion of NDRF, Ghaziabad. Experts trained participants in:<\/p>\n Theoretical sessions were held at Panchjanya Auditorium in Dampier Nagar, while practical demonstrations were conducted at Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan and Vishram Ghat and Bengali Ghat in Mathura.<\/p>\n Participants received hands-on training in boat handling, rescue techniques and emergency evacuation procedures.<\/p>\n NDRF personnel demonstrated the proper use of:<\/p>\n Boatmen and divers also participated in practical rescue drills designed to simulate real-life emergency situations on the Yamuna River.<\/p>\n Mathura and Vrindavan attract millions of pilgrims and tourists every year, many of whom visit riverfront ghats for religious activities, boat rides and spiritual tourism.<\/p>\n The Yamuna River remains one of the most visited locations in the district, making water safety a critical public concern. Disaster management experts note that trained local responders often become the first line of assistance during emergencies before specialized rescue teams arrive.<\/p>\n The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has previously highlighted that poor training, overloading of boats, inadequate safety equipment and lack of enforcement are among the major causes of inland water accidents across India.<\/p>\n During the programme, the District Magistrate instructed all boat operators to strictly follow safety protocols while operating boats and steamers.<\/p>\n Key instructions included:<\/p>\n The administration also advised boatmen to avoid several high-risk practices that commonly contribute to water accidents.<\/p>\n Boat operators were instructed:<\/p>\n NDRF and disaster management experts repeatedly emphasize that life jackets remain one of the most effective safety measures during water emergencies.<\/p>\n National disaster management guidelines recommend proper safety equipment and trained operators to reduce casualties in inland water transport incidents. Rescue equipment such as life jackets, life buoys and emergency communication devices significantly improve survival chances during accidents.<\/p>\n The District Magistrate informed participants that insurance facilities are available for both boatmen and passengers.<\/p>\n He also highlighted the formation of a Boatmen Welfare Committee aimed at protecting the interests of boat operators and divers while promoting safer boating practices in the district.<\/p>\n The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), established under the Disaster Management Act, is India’s specialized disaster response agency. NDRF teams regularly conduct rescue operations during floods, drowning incidents, cyclones, building collapses and other emergencies across the country.<\/p>\n The training was organized to improve disaster preparedness, water rescue capabilities and passenger safety along the Yamuna River.<\/p>\n Civil boatmen and divers operating in Mathura and Vrindavan participated in the special training.<\/p>\n Practical demonstrations were conducted at Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan and Vishram Ghat and Bengali Ghat in Mathura.<\/p>\n District authorities instructed boat operators to ensure life jackets are available and used by both operators and passengers.<\/p>\n Boats should carry life jackets, life buoys, first-aid kits, communication devices and emergency signaling equipment.<\/p>\n Disaster management guidelines identify overloading, inadequate safety equipment, poor maintenance and lack of operator training as major risk factors.<\/p>\n Mathura is located along the Yamuna River and receives large numbers of pilgrims and tourists, making water safety and emergency preparedness essential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NDRF’s 8th Battalion conducted special water rescue and disaster preparedness training for boatmen and divers in Mathura. Officials emphasized life jackets, passenger safety and emergency response along the Yamuna River.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3556,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2045,41],"tags":[2123,2040,2124,2121,2118,2089,2120,2122,2125,2119],"class_list":["post-3554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administration","category-mathura-local-news","tag-boatmen-training-mathura","tag-chandra-prakash-singh","tag-disaster-management-mathura","tag-keshi-ghat-training","tag-mathura-boat-safety","tag-mathura-dm","tag-ndrf-water-rescue","tag-vishram-ghat-safety","tag-water-rescue-training-india","tag-yamuna-river-safety"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mathuranow.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}District Magistrate Emphasizes Passenger Safety<\/h2>\n
NDRF Experts Conducted Search and Rescue Training<\/h2>\n
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Practical Demonstrations at Yamuna Ghats<\/h2>\n
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Why This Training Is Important for Mathura<\/h2>\n
Safety Guidelines Issued for Boat Operators<\/h2>\n
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Strict Warnings Against Unsafe Practices<\/h2>\n
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Life Jackets Can Save Lives<\/h2>\n
Insurance and Welfare Support Available<\/h2>\n
NDRF: India’s Specialized Disaster Response Force<\/h2>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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FAQ<\/h2>\n
Why did NDRF conduct training in Mathura?<\/h3>\n
Who participated in the programme?<\/h3>\n
Where was the practical training conducted?<\/h3>\n
Are life jackets mandatory?<\/h3>\n
What safety equipment should boats carry?<\/h3>\n
What are the major causes of boat accidents?<\/h3>\n
Why is this training important for Mathura?<\/h3>\n