Dehradun, Oct. 14 -- To strengthen disaster preparedness at the community level, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched the "Yuva Aapda Mitra Prashikshan Karyakram" (Youth Disaster Friend Training Programme) aimed at training over 4,300 youth volunteers across Uttarakhand as first responders during emergencies. The programme was inaugurated on Monday by SDRF Commander Arpan Yaduvanshi at the SDRF Corps Headquarters, Jolly Grant, Dehradun. The training initiative is being conducted jointly by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Under the scheme, 4,310 volunteers from 11 districts will undergo disaster management training. The trainees include 850 NCC cadets, 1,700 NSS members, 850 volunteers from the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), and 910 members of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. Of these, 1,220 volunteers including 576 from NYK and 644 from NSS will be trained in 17 batches at the SDRF battalion in Jolly Grant between October 2025 and March 2026. The first batch of 35 volunteers began its seven-day training on Monday, which will continue until October 19. During the course, participants will receive both theoretical and practical training in first aid, general disaster management, search operations, and rope rescue techniques. In the inaugural session, officials highlighted that Uttarakhand's fragile Himalayan terrain makes it highly prone to earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts, and forest fires. Trained volunteers or "Yuva Aapda Mitras" in every village and locality could play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of such disasters, they said....