Radio Saving Lives In Kerala Catastrophe Again

Radio Saving Lives In Kerala Catastrophe Again

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We are all aware about the floods in Kerala and how the state is struggling to deal with the calamity day to day. In these times, more than ever, do we need to band together as a nation to bring God’s own country out of the darkness that has engulfed it.

A POWERFUL MEDIUM TO SAVE LIVES

Time and again, one medium has proved to be a powerful mode of communication in Kerala which is the radio and the amateur radio operators who worked day and night during Kerala rescue operations. Even during the Chennai flood in 2015, the medium helped save precious lives.

On August 16, when purchasing administrator M Harsha of Tiruvanmiyur, received a call from his desperate friend, whose grandparents were stuck on the terrace of their house, he quickly jumped into action. He said, “Through the ham radio Echolink on my laptop, I contacted the team base, while simultaneously messaging the details to a nearby army base, and they were rescued.”

Image: TheHindu

RESCUE MISSION AIDED BY RADIO

More than 120 ham operators from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa & Karnataka have combined forces with control stations across various Kerala districts to help save those who are stranded or require medical attention. “The operators are doctors, agriculturists, IT professionals etc who are volunteering their time for relief efforts,” said Suwil Kumar, IT head of Kerala’s Energy Management Centre, who was heading the ham control room in Thiruvananthapuram.

HOW THIS WORKS

Licensed and Non-licensed ham operators relay messages through WhatsApp, phone calls or through high frequency networks to control stations, who verify the same and forward to rescue teams. Kumar also pointed out that while some ham radios are battery operated and do not require a power supply, some are even solar powered that can function during electricity shortage during floods.

More than 7000 messages had come in and 855 people, including 45 airline crew members stranded in a hotel in Aluva and many tea workers from an estate in Kumily, had been rescued.

During these trying times, the true nature of humanity had come forward to help the ones in need. Amateur radio operators gave their time and putting in efforts to save some precious lives. We applaud them for this..

Read More: 89-YEAR-OLD KERALA FARMER PROVIDES BOOKS FOR TRIBAL KIDS

Image: India Times

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