With pre-monsoon rains already battering parts of Maharashtra, causing significant agricultural damage, the threat of flooding looms large—especially for villages located along riverbanks. In response to this pressing concern, authorities in Marathwada are set to adopt a drone-based alert system to warn residents of flood risks during the monsoon season.
Traditionally, police personnel have relied on ground announcements to alert villagers of rising river levels and flood threats. However, reaching remote villages swiftly has often posed a challenge. To overcome this, Marathwada Police will now use drones equipped with speakers to make emergency announcements across riverside settlements.
Divisional Commissioner Dilip Gawde confirmed that the administration is enthusiastic about integrating modern technology into disaster management efforts. Nanded Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar added that a proposal to procure drones through the District Planning Committee (DPC) has been submitted, and once approved, deployment will begin in flood-prone areas.
The initiative will initially cover eight districts of Marathwada:
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Nanded
Beed
Latur
Dharashiv
Jalna
Parbhani
Hingoli