Representatives of a state-level association of civil defence volunteers have alleged that the Bengal government is engaging untrained civic volunteers for disaster management, instead of civil defence volunteers who are trained to handle different situations and have effectively rescued thousands of people over decades.

“In 1968, the civil defence department was formed in our state and since then, our trained volunteers have handled several disasters and saved people. However, these days, we have found that instead of our volunteers, civic volunteers, who are not trained, are being posted in larger numbers on sites for disaster management. The state government should look into the issue,” said Prasenjit Basak, the state general secretary of the Pashimbanga Civil Defence Volunteers’ Association.

On Monday, Basak, along with some other members of the state association, visited the Mal riverbank in Malbazar of Jalpaiguri district where eight persons, including two minors, had lost their lives in a flash flood last week.

“Even on the banks of the Mal, only eight volunteers of civil defence were posted whereas the number of civic volunteers was much more. Our volunteers braved their lives and rescued most of the people. Yet, we have been criticised. This is unfortunate,” he added.

After the Malbazar tragedy, questions were raised by Opposition parties and common people as to whether the civil defence department had made proper arrangements on the riverbank to handle a situation like the flash flood. Also, it was pointed out that eight volunteers of the department were inadequate to rescue people.

The civil defence volunteers also said in the recent incident of Maynaguri — the train accident in January — they had been engaged extensively for rescue operations.

“Even now, we are not permanent employees but risk our lives to save people,” said a senior volunteer.

Moumita Godara Basu, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, declined comments on the issues raised by the volunteers’ association. “We are conducting an inquiry and simultaneously, it has been decided to prepare a standard operating procedure to avoid such disasters in future,” the Jalpaiguri DM said.