Vijayawada: The state government roped in several drones to reach food and water packets to the residents of flood-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh. Officials said this ensured that food, drinking water, medicines and other essentials like candles reached all residents in the affected areas in Ajith Singh Nagar, New and Old Rajarajeshwari Pet, Vambay Colony, Pipul Road etc. These areas lay submerged under the Budameru deluge for the last three days.
On the third day of the floods here, the government deployed over two dozen drones, in addition to using boats, tractors and trucks, as well as IAF and Indian Navy helicopters for airdropping food packets and drinking water cartons. Initially, many people were stuck inside the flood-hit colonies without receiving relief material the government supplied through NDRF and SDRF personnel. With a thread tied beneath the drone and a basket attached to it, relief teams filled these baskets with nearly 10 food packets, water packets and bottles, which would satiate the hunger of a family or two. Drones would drop these materials to residents who hop onto the roofs of their buildings in the flooded areas.
These drones were operated in a full-fledged manner on Tuesday after a trial run on Monday evening. With the Ajith Singh Nagar flyover as base, relief materials were sent to people stuck in the colonies on either side of the flyover. CEO and co-founder of Marut Drones, Prem Kumar Vislawath, said, “Our drones are reaching areas that manual aid fails to approach. We are reaching food, medicines and essential supplies directly to those in need in Vijayawada.”
Marut Drones, a Hyderabad-based drone company, has been effectively delivering food, medicines and drinking water to residents stranded in their homes in flood-hit areas here. In collaboration with the AP Drone Corporation, Marut is operating a service division, making 200 deliveries per hour and helping 4,000-5,000 flood-affected individuals. The company currently deployed 10 drones. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that as many as 19 people have lost their lives, 200 animals have been found dead, and 65,000 boats have been damaged. “129 hectares of land have been waterlogged due to the floods. 232 kilometers of roads have been damaged, and 11 connecting roads have been repaired. Over 600,000 people have been evacuated and shifted to rehabilitation centers,” he said.
