By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: In Bihar, rescuing drowning victims will soon become faster and more efficient with the help of advanced technology. A special type of device has been designed to locate and assist drowning individuals. The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) has initiated trials of this equipment, with two companies demonstrating their devices. Further technical upgrades have been requested before procurement is considered.
Each year, approximately 2,000 people lose their lives to drowning in Bihar. Currently, divers conduct searches in rivers such as the Ganga and Kosi, often taking hours or even days to locate victims, and sometimes failing to recover bodies. To address this challenge, the authority has decided to leverage modern technology. Two companies, USEF and ROUV, have demonstrated their devices for this purpose.
Both devices, which operate underwater via remote control, are being evaluated on various parameters. The first device, USEF, can quickly reach the drowning site and rescue the individual. It has a range of 300 metres to three kilometres and can carry loads between 180 and 200 kilograms. The second device, ROUV, is equipped with two high-resolution cameras and a 6,000-lumen light system, enabling it to capture live footage and photographs even in dark or muddy water.
Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) conducted trials of the devices recently. During the initial phase, the companies were asked to enhance the technology, particularly to prevent collisions, ensuring the devices operate more effectively. Currently, divers are limited to short-range searches. With these devices, divers will be better equipped with cutting-edge technology to improve rescue operations.
Once the trials are successful, the equipment will be purchased and distributed to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
