We aim to train 3,000 volunteers: Chandigarh DC Nishant Yadav laud high volunteer turnout amid tensions with Pakistan

Amid the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav on Saturday said the administration is conducting a voluntary training and enrolment camp for civil defence volunteers at Tagore Theatre.

"We are conducting a voluntary training and enrollment camp for Civil Defence Volunteers at Tagore Theatre. People's response is really good. We have enrolled over 1000 people. They are being trained at Tagore Theatre," Yadav told ANI.

He said that due to the large turnout, another venue has been set up. "A large number of people had turned up. So, we have sent the rest of the people to Tiranga Park, to the second camp. The second batch of Civil Defence training will begin there shortly," Yadav added.


The Deputy Commissioner said they hope to enrol 3,000 volunteers by the end of the day.

"With the response we have received, we hope to train and enrol 3000 civil defence volunteers today..."

Yadav also said that such training programmes could continue if there is sufficient demand.

"We can keep this as a regular practice, if there is a demand from the people. We have adequate capacity, the NDRF team also provides training, Red Cross provides first aid training. Besides this, physical activities training is also being provided," he added.

Looking ahead, Yadav outlined plans to engage trained volunteers in social work."Our long-term plan would be to deploy these registered civil defence volunteers and engage them in social work...The situation is peaceful right now," he added.

Earlier today, youths gathered in large numbers in Chandigarh following a local announcement calling for civil defence volunteers.

Parambir Singh, a resident of Chandigarh, said, "We are here to provide our services to our nation. We have filled the form (for volunteer service)."

Another local, Sanjana Arora, emphasised that they all want to help the Indian Army and respond to Pakistan's "continued provocations."

"We were called here by the administration, and it's incredible to see such a massive turnout of young people. So many youths have gathered today to express their support for India and our armed forces. The energy here is remarkable, even those who usually don't wake up early have shown up in huge numbers. Everyone is eager to know when they can enter because we all want to stand with our soldiers, who are bravely responding to Pakistan's continued provocations," she said.

Earlier, India launched the retaliatory strikes immediately after Pakistan attacked 26 locations across India on Saturday, the sources told ANI. Intermittent firing is still going on at several places along the Line of Control (LoC).

Indian strikes hit at least four airbases in Pakistan in the early hours of Saturday, top government sources said, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.