The National Security Guard has recommended a new breathable uniform for its Black Cat commandos after intense heat caused exhaustion among personnel assigned to protect high-risk VIPs, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The move followed an incident in April when an NSG commando providing close protection to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu fainted while on duty in Vijayawada, according to sources in the security establishment who spoke to PTI.

The temperature was nearly 44 degrees Celsius that day. The commando was wearing a bullet-proof jacket over his black overall uniform and a black beret, and was carrying small arms around his waist when he suffered heatstroke and exhaustion, officials said.

Widely circulated videos showed Naidu speaking to the media when the commando standing beside him fainted. Other security personnel supported him to prevent him from falling.

Commanders of the NSG’s Close Protection Force and experts at its headquarters took serious note of the incident. They concluded that increasingly hot weather and rising temperatures were taking a physical toll on the force’s VIP security teams.

The black overalls absorb considerable heat. Commandos also have to wear a bullet-proof vest weighing about 6 kg and carry communication equipment, besides wearing black sunglasses while on duty, the sources said.

“It has therefore been decided to provide the commandos with better clothing for their uniforms. A breathable material named nyco, comprising nylon and cotton, has been recommended for the black uniforms of NSG VIP security commandos,” a source told PTI.

The material allows air and moisture vapour to pass through freely, helping keep the wearer cool, the sources said.

Uniforms made of nyco are worn by the CRPF’s CoBRA commandos, who specialise in jungle warfare operations and often work in strong sunlight and humid conditions, a security officer involved in the process told PTI.

Trials of the new clothing have been completed, and the NSG will procure the material soon, the officer said. The commandos are expected to start wearing the new uniform by the time Assembly elections in five states are announced.

Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa are expected to be held early next year, and several people protected by the NSG will take part in campaigning.

The force currently provides Z-plus security to nine VIPs: Naidu, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, veteran BJP leader LK Advani, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party president Ghulam Nabi Azad, and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

The NSG is a federal contingency force responsible for counter-terrorism, counter-hijacking and VIP security duties. Its 12 and 14 Special Ranger Groups are assigned to VIP protection, with commandos joining these units from various central armed police forces.

The proposed nyco uniform is aimed at reducing the impact of heat on NSG commandos carrying heavy protective and communication equipment while guarding VIPs, with procurement expected after successful trials.

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