CRPF personnel in Ch'tisgarh also fighting inherent issues

The CRPF personnel fighting Naxalites in Chhattisgarh are up against not only the ultras but also inherent impediments -- lack of potable water, hot temperatures and poor mobile networks.

Officials who visited some of the interior camps of the CRPF in Bastar region, where the force lost 25 personnel in an ambush last Monday, have found that quality of water is very inferior resulting in many of them falling sick.

"We take various steps to purify the drinking water. But that is not enough as when the boys go on patrolling they some time have to drink water from open sources which leads to illness," an officer said.

The temperature of Bastar region during summers go up to 45 degrees Celsius and such hot and humid conditions make the security personnel tired soon, leading to frustration, officials said.

To boost the morale of the paramilitary personnel, nutritious food, including non-vegetarian variety, are being supplied to all camps.

Home Ministry officials feel that there is an urgent need to improve the condition of CRPF camps as well as facilities offered to them.

"Camps of the CRPF need to be upgraded," Senior Security Adviser in the Home Ministry K Vijay Kumar told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)