Indian Rescue Academy.
Founded in 2014 by Ankit Wagh, a former international swimmer and rescue expert, to address the need for specialised rescue training in India.
History and mission
Save lives, and build the nation.
The mission of IRA is to save lives and contribute to nation-building by providing high-quality training to rescue personnel.
Training programmes
- Technical rope rescue — techniques for rescuing individuals from heights and difficult terrains.
- Confined space rescue — training for rescuing people trapped in confined spaces such as tunnels or storage tanks.
- Aquatic search and rescue — techniques for water-based rescue operations, including swift water rescue.
- Special forces operations — training for specialised rescue operations involving special forces.
- VIP driving — courses for driving high-profile individuals safely.
- Maritime operations — training for rescue operations in maritime environments.
- Communicable disease control for disaster management — specialised training for managing disease outbreaks during disasters.
Achievements and partnerships
- Empanelled with the National Fisheries Development Corporation — trained 100 lifeguards across 14 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.
- Best Private Service Provider Award — recognised by Hon. Chandrababu Naidu, CM of Andhra Pradesh, for services during Godavari Pushkarams 2014.
- Partnership with Surf Life Saving New South Wales — collaborating with the world's oldest lifesaving organisation to enhance training programmes.
- Member of the International Maritime Rescue Federation — contributing to maritime rescue standards.
Training centres
IRA has established training centres in Kolad and Chennai, offering both onsite and in-academy training formats. They also have a corporate back-office setup in Pune to support their training operations.