Drones to be used for relief to disaster-hit

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 18

The Department of Disaster Management will actively take the help of drones for actively taking up relief work in the aftermath of disasters and also carry out resource mapping of vulnerable areas before the disasters for creating a data base, Additional Secretary, Department of Disaster Management Saveen Bansal has said on Wednesday.

He said that due to the states high vulnerability to disasters it has been felt that the districts vulnerable to disasters should be equipped with technical and non-technical equipment. “With the introduction of drones, this monsoon season we have taken a step further to fortify ourselves with the latest technology driven equipment,” said Bansal while speaking with media persons.

Bansal further said that when disaster occurs, the drones can be used to provide relief workers better grasp of the situation on the ground, locate survivors and even deliver supplies and in normal conditions help in collecting data with accurate penetration.

“All the district disaster management units, especially the six vulnerable district units, would be equipped with drones. The state unit (Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority) has already procured one drone. Around 10 per cent of the budget allocated for State disaster Response Force will go towards the procurement of equipments,” he added.

Stressing that the monsoon season would see the department take technological initiatives to a new level.

He said along with drones state-of-the-art GIS laboratories too have been set up at Almora, Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Nainital district units. So satellite phones have been provided to the districts for maintaining unbroken connectivity.