NDRF 2nd Battalion cyclothon: 105 join 25-km ride on World Cycling Day
Synopsis
India's frontline disaster rescuers swapped their emergency gear for bicycles on World Cycling Day, with NDRF's Haringhata battalion fielding 105 riders — including 15 children — across a 25-km cyclothon, while also joining a 1,000-strong SAI rally in Kolkata. Two days earlier, the same unit planted over 2,000 saplings for World Environment Day.
Key Takeaways
NDRF 2nd Battalion at Haringhata, Nadia held a 25-km cyclothon on 7 June to mark World Cycling Day .
105 participants , including 15 children , took part in the battalion's cyclothon.
NDRF personnel also joined the SAI 'Sunday on Cycle' rally at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata , which drew around 1,000 cyclists .
On 5 June , the battalion planted more than 2,000 saplings for World Environment Day .
The Haringhata unit's past operations include rescuing a six-year-old child from rubble during the 2023 Turkey earthquake .
The 2nd Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), headquartered at Haringhata in Nadia district, West Bengal, organised a 25-km cyclothon on Sunday, 7 June to mark World Cycling Day, drawing 105 participants — including 15 children — from among NDRF rescuers and their family members.
Key Developments
The cyclothon was one of two cycling events the battalion took part in on the day. NDRF personnel also joined the 'Sunday on Cycle' rally organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, which drew around 1,000 cyclists from the Central Armed Police Forces, the Army, Kolkata Police, civil administration, civil volunteers, and other organisations. All participants completed the 10-km rally route.
What Officials Said
'The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from NDRF rescuers and their family members. A total of 105 participants, including 15 children, took part in the cyclothon. The event encouraged a healthy lifestyle and highlighted the importance of eco-friendly modes of transportation,' a senior official said.
The official added that 'the events reflected NDRF's commitment to fitness, environmental conservation, community engagement and the promotion of healthy living among citizens.'
The chief guest at the Salt Lake Stadium rally was Nisith Pramanik, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of West Bengal.
World Environment Day Drive
The weekend's civic activities followed a large-scale plantation drive on 5 June, World Environment Day, in which the 2nd Battalion planted more than 2,000 saplings of indigenous and environment-friendly species at designated locations. Children attended alongside their parents, and NDRF personnel have committed to tending the saplings until they are fully grown.
The Battalion's Wider Record
The Haringhata unit is routinely deployed across India during natural calamities and has also conducted international rescue operations. Notably, personnel from the battalion were part of the response to the 2023 Turkey earthquake, where they rescued a six-year-old child from beneath the rubble — one of the more widely cited operations in the unit's history. The battalion headquarters also runs training programmes for rescuers from other organisations and state disaster-response units.
Sunday's events signal a deliberate effort by the force to broaden its public identity beyond emergency response — positioning NDRF personnel as community health and environment advocates in the intervals between deployments.
Point of View
Deliberate image exercise for a force whose public visibility is otherwise confined to disaster footage. Positioning rescuers as community wellness advocates is smart institutional PR, but it also serves a recruitment and morale function: families who cycle together with the unit are families more likely to stay connected to it. The plantation drive two days earlier reinforces the pattern. Whether these events translate into measurable community health or environmental outcomes is a separate question, but the optics of India's disaster force choosing bicycles and saplings over press conferences is, at minimum, a welcome departure from the norm.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the NDRF cyclothon on World Cycling Day?
The NDRF 2nd Battalion at Haringhata, Nadia organised a 25-km cyclothon on 7 June to mark World Cycling Day, with 105 participants including 15 children drawn from NDRF rescuers and their families. The event aimed to promote physical fitness and eco-friendly transport.
Where is the NDRF 2nd Battalion based?
The 2nd Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force is headquartered at Haringhata in Nadia district, West Bengal. The unit is deployed across India during natural calamities and has also conducted international rescue operations.
What was the SAI 'Sunday on Cycle' rally in Kolkata?
The 'Sunday on Cycle' rally was organised by the Sports Authority of India at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, on 7 June. Around 1,000 cyclists from the Central Armed Police Forces, the Army, Kolkata Police, civil volunteers, and other bodies participated, completing a 10-km route. West Bengal Minister Nisith Pramanik was the chief guest.
What did NDRF do for World Environment Day 2025?
On 5 June, World Environment Day, the NDRF 2nd Battalion conducted a large-scale plantation drive, planting more than 2,000 saplings of indigenous species at designated locations. Children attended with their parents, and personnel have committed to caring for the plants until they are fully grown.
What notable rescue operations has the NDRF 2nd Battalion carried out?
The Haringhata battalion has been deployed in major disasters across India and abroad. One of its most cited operations was the rescue of a six-year-old child from beneath rubble following the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023.
