Fire force now has new crisis control vehicles and drones for disaster relief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fire force now has new drones and crisis control vehicles to reach the disaster affected areas and to coordinate rescue operations in an efficient way. The advantage is that drone surveillance can accurately identify disaster-affected areas where roads, electricity and communications are lost. The Chief Minister will submit these to the state before the onset of monsoon.

20 new vehicles will be equipped with modern technology drones, receivers and laptops at 14 district headquarters and six regional offices,. The investment is Rs 3.20 crore.

The floods and landslides in Puthumala in Wayanad and Kavalappara in Malappuram in 2019, Idukki Pettimudi in 2020 and Kottayam in 2021 prompted the fire force to provide modern facilities.

In addition to Crisis Control vehicles based on rain warnings, newly purchased boats and dinghies for the Fire Force are being set up at all district headquarters and disaster prone areas in view of previous years' floods and flash floods.