The Mumbai Fire Brigade is preparing itself to handle rescue operations all over the city in case of an emergency arising this monsoon. For the first time ever, 10 firemen went to the scenic town of Kolad, about 150 km away from Mumbai on the Goa Highway last week, to attend a course in flash flood management organised by a Canada-based NGO International Rescue Instructor's Authority (IRIA). Experts James Lavelly from Canada and Jeremy Hunter from UK trained the firemen in disaster management, in-commandant support and actual water rescue in the rough river waters of Kolad . The firemen stated that they would now train more officers in the course. Rajiv Somani, managing director of Chowpatty water-sports complex H2O, which has tied up with IRIA to organise trainings said, "After 2005, Mumbai suddenly realised the need for skilled rescue operations during floods. Flash floods can occur at any time with no warning - if a dam ever breaks we need to be able to fight the situation. That's why, we decided to train professionals in flood rescue.' Lavelly is said to be an expert in disaster response and has served as an advisor to California and Florida when the states were hit by a hurricane. Fireman Prabhat Rahangdale pointed out that flood rescue operations need techniques different from regular drowning rescue operations. "In flash flood, the water comes with great force and swiftness. Its pressure is such that it drags you with it. Besides, flood water carries a lot of debris which needs to be cleared before a person is saved,' he said. Rehangdale is now confident that they have the competence and the equipment needed to handle flood situations in the city. "For the past two years, we have been improvising on our rescue operations during floods. This year, the training has taken us a step further - we are now equipped with international expertise.' So far, the officials have been trained in two courses - technical, which involves the actual activity of entering the water and rescuing, and commandant, which involves observing and alerting technicians.