Post-Op Sindoor, Nagpur made a Military Civil Fusion node in Maha

Nagpur: In a post-Operation Sindoor initiative, Nagpur has been made a Military Civil Fusion (MCF) node in Maharashtra. The MCF will serve as an institutional mechanism that would come into action during an emergency like a war or even a peacetime crisis. Nagpur is among the nine nodes planned throughout the Army's southern command which has its headquarters in Pune. Starting from down south it extends till Bhuj in Gujarat. Each node will serve an extended area.This MCF effort is in line with defence minister Rajnath Singh's call for smoother coordination between military and civilian authorities in light of the recent hostilities with Pakistan. MCF nodes are being established all over the country. The groundwork on Nagpur MCF also began recently. The MCF Conclave Nagpur, the first joint meet with different civilian agencies like the NDRF, SDRF, police and even IAF, was hosted by the Army's sub-area for Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat (UMANG) on Tuesday. Lt Gen DS Kushwah, General Officer Commanding (Maharashtra) monitored the proceedingsSimilar coordination efforts were also taken during earlier wars like 1965 or 1971, or Kargil (1999). However, since there was no major engagement after that, such initiatives took a back seat. The efforts were revived, said sources.The mechanism will be evolved considering the changing dynamics with Nagpur being in the strike range of certain missiles which cannot be ruled out and preparations need to be made on these lines, said experts. However, it was also stressed that there was no immediate reason to panic. Nagpur, due to its central location, is considered to be safer.Among the first MCF initiatives would be a firefighters' drill planned along with Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon in Wardha district, next month. Nicknamed Mecca of Ammunition, CAD Pulgaon CAD, has one of the elite firefighting teams. Trained to handle situations involving explosives, the Pulgaon firefighters have won plaudits internationally. Their expertise would be shared with civilian counterparts. The exercise would simulate exigencies of various types, sources said.Similar initiatives, though, included a military and railway conclave, along with a disaster management and flood relief mock drill by the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF).Addressing the meet, General Officer Commanding (UMANG) Major General Navtej Singh Sohal said MCF is a crucial enabler for efficient resource utilisation and national preparedness. He stressed the need for a formal, institutionalised framework for sustained efforts by both military and civilian organisations.One of the speakers also stressed leveraging the PM Gati Shakti logistics network, which includes a multimodal logistics park at Nagpur, so that the movement of men and material can be faster. Issues like availability of trains and clearing of routes, considering faster movement during emergencies, were also discussed during the meet.