In a first, 5 ISRO satellites used to rescue marooned in Kerala

The Centre and State Government’s disaster management teams have managed to rescue thousands of marooned victims of Kerala flood with the help of five earth-based satellites of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The satellites are Resourcesat-2, Oceansat-2, INSAT 3DR, Cartosat-2 and Cartosat-2A.  This is the first time that the Government agencies have used satellite technology to rescue victims during floods in the country.

Top sources said the satellites were consistently providing information and images on real-time weather situations, weather forecasts, regional conditions and other crucial updates on the flooded areas of the State to the control centre. The data and images provided by the satellites helped the agencies and disaster management teams to stay consistently and carry out rescue operations effectively in every corner of the State.

“Each satellite is assigned to provide data on different parameters that will help analyse the situation better. All these data are relayed to the Decision Support Centre (DSC) at the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, Hyderabad, where necessary analyses and report generation are done. In case of further events of flood or prediction of impending weather deterioration, the flooded areas are marked in the report immediately. Inundation maps are generated, colour-coding the flooded and non-flooded regions and are shared with the State and Centre relief agencies to take effective measures to necessary rescue operation. The reports also contain information on transport network status, affected villages and more, using which, the relief organisations can plan and deploy rescue teams quickly,” sources said.

“We are using the data from these satellites to provide alerts on flooding, areas of inundation, during and after rain, and weather forecasts,” said the sources.

INSAT 3DR is a weather satellite to provide meteorological services to India using a 6-channel imager and a 19-channel sounder, as well as search and rescue information and message relay for terrestrial data collection platforms. The satellite can capture images of the earth disk from an altitude of 36,000 km once in every 26 minutes. It can provide information on various parameters like radiation, precipitation, sea surface temperature, snow cover and cloud motion wind. The satellite provides the latest information in fluctuating temperatures and humidity in the coast over Kerala.

The CARTOSAT-2A and 2 satellites are a sophisticated and rugged remote sensing satellite that can provide scene specific spot imagery. This satellite carried a Panchromatic Camera (PAN). The spatial resolution of this camera is better than 1m and swath of 9.6 km. Imageries from this satellite were used for cartographic applications like mapping, urban and rural infrastructure development and management, as well as application in Land Information (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS). The RESOURCESAT-2 is  to provide data with enhanced multispectral and spatial coverage as well. The Oceansat-2, is envisaged to provide service continuity for the operational users of OCM (Ocean Color Monitor) data as well as to enhance the application potential in other areas.

As per the IMD report, Kannur, Kollam, Kasaragod, Alappuzha, Idukki, Wayanad, Kottayam, Thiruvanthapuram, Palakkad, Ernakulam and Mallappuram are the most affected areas from floods in Kerala as maximum number of deaths were reported from these districts. Besides, maximum damage of crops, animal deaths and damage of houses took place in these districts.

According to Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), over 54.11 lakh people in Kerala were affected in the massive floods of which 12.47 lakh inmates have taken shelter in 5,645 relief camps since May 30. Besides, over two crore animals and poultry have died in the God’s own country Kerala till August 20. As per report, 373 people have been killed, 87 people were injured and 32 others went missing in the deluge which hit all the 14 districts of the southern State.