Overview
- Authorities in South 24 Parganas have introduced a remote-controlled lifebuoy water drone at the Gangasagar Mela for search-and-rescue operations.
- The device operates over roughly 1 kilometre and reaches about 7 metres per second, enabling faster arrival than human swimmers.
- It can tow up to 1,000 kilograms, allowing it to pull multiple survivors or life rafts in a single run.
- An onboard camera streams 1080p live video to the controller, and GPS auto-return sends the unit back to its launch point if the signal is lost or the battery dips below 15 percent.
- The drone self-rights within two seconds and uses an impact-resistant LLDPE body with enclosed propellers for safer contact, with officials citing mock drills ahead of an expected heavy turnout.