The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) handed over 12 satellite phones to the Uttarakhand police for use in the disaster-affected areas of the State. Police personnel were first trained in the use of these satellite phones at the institute on Thursday.
Apart from this, the proposal of the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) to establish satellite terminals in the affected areas is also expected to be approved soon in order to boost the rescue and relief efforts. It should be noted that disruption in communication network in the disaster-affected areas is a major problem being faced in the rescue and relief efforts as the victims are unable to contact their families or the seek help from the authorities.
IIRS director YVN Krishna Murthy said that the satellite phones were required by the State Government so he facilitated these through the Indian Space Research Organisation’s disaster management support programme. The phones were handed over to the State Director General of Police after policemen were trained in their use, he added.
Meanwhile, the National Remote Sensing Centre is working on facilitating the satellite imagery of the disaster-affected areas, informed Krishna Murthy.
According to the USAC director, MM Kimothi, the centre had also requested ISRO to provide the satellite phones to Uttarakhand as these can be put to vital use in the State. “Our proposal to establish satellite terminals in the disaster-affected areas is also being considered by the State Government and is expected to be approved. Initially, we propose to set up satellite terminals at three places to assist in the rescue and relief works as soon as possible. The terminals will include audio and video links apart from being linked to a local area network,” said Kimothi.
He said that the centre was also in the process of acquiring satellite imagery of the disaster-affected areas especially Kedarnath as studying the images would help in establishing the factors which led to the devastation.