IIT-Mandi team bags third prize

Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 21

An IIT-Mandi team has bagged the third prize in the state-wide contest for the ‘Development of Innovative Prototypes for Disaster Preparedness and Response’ held at Gaiety Theater in Shimla recently.

The team comprising professors and students developed a low-cost landslide monitoring system. The prize was given away by Manisha Nanda, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue). 

Prof Varun Dutt from IIT-Mandi said landslides caused major infrastructure damage and deaths globally. India was on top on the global landslide list, he said, adding that losses of more than Rs 1,000 crore were suffered every year on account of landslides. 

“Average losses in Himachal alone are more than Rs 550 crore every year, besides 200 deaths,” he added.