Assistance from Drones in Andhra Pradesh Flood Relief and Rescue Operations

The worst affected districts of Andhra Pradesh include Vijayawada, NTR, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, Palnadu, Bapatla, and Prakasam, where thousands of acres of crops have been submerged due to flooding. The state has faced severe humanitarian and property loss, surpassing the impact of previous natural disasters such as the Hudhud hurricane and Titli cyclone.

In response to the crisis, the government has deployed drones for relief and rescue operations. Initially used for aerial surveys of disaster-affected areas, drones have now become faster and more efficient tools, conserving fuel resources that were previously used in helicopter reconnaissance.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh stated that drones have been employed for the first time to deliver essential supplies and food to flood-affected individuals, significantly boosting the efficiency of relief efforts. The state’s Chief Minister, Mr. Naidu, reported the successful use of eight to nine drones to distribute food packets, including biscuits, fruits, milk, and medicines, to 10,000 people in a single day.

He further assured that an additional 35 drones would be deployed in the following days to expand the relief operations. Moreover, drones were utilized to drop life jackets to individuals stranded in flooded areas, resulting in successful rescues, such as a boy being rescued in the Khammam district.