‘Govt using 176 drones for flood relief operations’

Minister K. Atchannaidu announced that the government is distributing food items and medicines to people in flood-affected areas using an innovative approach involving drones. He noted that Andhra Pradesh is the first state to utilise drones in flood-prone areas for relief measures. The Minister briefed Education, IT, and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh on the ongoing flood relief operations.
Atchannaidu explained that 176 drones were deployed from day one for relief operations. Of these, 115 drones were used to distribute food and medical supplies to 1,23,000 flood victims. Additionally, 50 drones were utilised for field-level supervision, and 11 drones were engaged in spraying to eliminate germs and pests in floodwaters to prevent the spread of diseases.
He mentioned that arrangements were being made to release water from the full Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects to downstream areas, noting that Vijayawada city was unexpectedly flooded by the ‘Budameru’ River. Acting swiftly, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu instructed the department to provide essential assistance to the flood victims.
The Minister added that a comprehensive programme was launched under the agriculture department’s supervision for drone use in the distribution of food, water, and medicine, sanitation spraying, and field-level monitoring in flood-hit areas during these disastrous conditions. He further stated that a team of technical experts, led by Dr. Satyanarayana from the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University Research Directorate, collaborated with the Drone Corporation on this innovative experiment, yielding unprecedented positive results.
Atchannaidu remarked that one should always remain a perpetual student, continuously learning from global advancements, as frequently emphasised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in ministerial meetings. In line with the Chief Minister’s vision of utilising cutting-edge technology for state development, Atchannaidu stated that he learned a great deal through this drone technology venture.
He added that the extensive use of drones, similar to helicopters, for assisting victims during natural disasters globally, has garnered praise from several ministers and senior officials across various departments.