Palghar, Maharashtra: In a significant step towards enhancing emergency response in water-related incidents, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of Palghar has deployed unmanned robotic boats across the district. With an investment of ₹1.66 crore, these state-of-the-art robotic rescue boats aim to save lives during drowning incidents in the sea, rivers, and streams.
The robotic boats have been distributed to various coastal police stations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats across Palghar district. These boats are expected to play a crucial role in the swift rescue of individuals in distress without putting additional human lives at risk.
To ensure proper utilization, training sessions have been conducted for police personnel and staff of respective local bodies on how to operate the robotic boats. These sessions were held at seashores and other relevant locations. Officials emphasised that this initiative is a major step toward strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the region.
The robotic boats have been allotted to six coastal police stations, Kelve, Satpati, Vangaon, Dahanu, Gholvad, and Tarapur, and to the municipalities of Dahanu, Jawhar, and Palghar, as well as the Wada Nagar Panchayat. A live demonstration was held at Kelve beach during high tide, showcasing the boat’s capabilities.
Present during the demonstration were District Disaster Management Officer Vivekanand Kadam, Kelve Assistant Police Inspector Vijaya Goswami, officials from the Palghar Municipal Council's Fire Department, and representatives from all six coastal police stations, three municipalities and Wada Nagar Panchayat.
A Life-Saving Innovation
Described as a life-saver, the robotic boat is designed to assist drowning individuals without risking the life of a rescuer. Typically, rescuing a drowning person involves sending another individual into potentially dangerous waters. However, this robotic boat can perform the task autonomously.
With a capacity of 200 kilograms, the boat can be operated remotely to navigate deep waters. A person in distress can simply grab onto the boat and be safely transported back to shore. Officials are hailing this technology as a significant advancement for the district's disaster management toolkit.
