CRPF Scales Up Facilities In Operational Areas After Deputy Commandant’s Death From IED Blast Last Month

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has made several changes in its operational areas after the death of its 35-year-old officer Deputy Commandant Vikas Kumar Singhal from the elite CoBRA unit last month, India Today reports.

Singhal was injured due to an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion at the time of its diffusion.

Singhal was given first-aid at Kistaram field hospital and was then flown to a private hospital in Raipur for further treatment. The deceased personnel’s wife had accused that delayed treatment caused the officer’s death. However, the forces denied these accusations and reiterated that everyone worked hard to save the CoBRA's 208th battalion officer.

The CRPF is now taking multiple measures to protect the lives of the injured personnel. Field surgical units that assist in swifter evacuation and air evacuation of injured troops are being set up.

Recently, the police force had introduced a bike ambulance to improve accessibility to remote and difficult terrains. Moreover, the local field hospitals have been asked to improve their medical equipment and rope in first-aid boxes to heal injuries related to IED blasts and to prevent excessive bleeding.

“We are mapping the nearest hospitals and cities from different locations. Also, we have started bike ambulances since sometimes it is not possible to do air evacuation directly. CRPF is in touch with states for cooperation,” AP Maheshwari, Director-General (DG) of CRPF, was quoted in the report.

Apparently, Maoists have scaled up the usage of IEDs as 340 such bombs have been recovered from the conflict theatres in recent times.