Kolkata: Kolkata Police has enhanced underwater search operations with a new communications system.
The city police have decided to prioritise the procurement of an advanced underwater communication system.
The Kolkata Police plan to spend around Rs 24 lakh to procure the underwater communication system. The equipment will be subsequently handed over to the Disaster Management Group (DMG).
This will enable divers from the DMG to maintain constant contact with their controllers on the riverbank during search-and-rescue operations.
The murky Ganga waters have prompted the Kolkata Police to shift focus from water drones to this underwater communication system.
Trials have been conducted with water drones at several locations in the Ganga.
They failed to yield clear video footage due to the river’s highly turbid water. This has raised doubts about the technology’s effectiveness in real-life rescue missions.
The system will allow two divers to communicate with each other as well as with personnel stationed on the shore. The communication will remain uninterrupted even when divers are wearing full-face masks.
The system will use colour-coded communication ropes or cables linking the divers to the surface unit.
In addition, waterproof earphones and microphones will allow them to exchange messages clearly.
Special noise-filtering features will ensure that underwater disturbances, such as bubbles or ambient noise, do not interfere with communication.
Other than the communication system, Kolkata Police is investing in modern diving gear to strengthen its underwater rescue capability. 10 sets of advanced diving suits equipped with specialised masks are being procured for Rs 3.15 crore.
This will enable divers to remain underwater for longer durations during operations. The suits will also help release toxic gases and improve underwater visibility.
Kolkata Police is purchasing 20 rubber boats at a cost of about Rs 44 lakh to assist divers and carry out rescue operations on the river surface. Each boat will have a seating capacity for five rescuers.
The force is also procuring 120 bright orange floating rings for the DMG and river Police units at a cost of around Rs 3000 each. Four paddle boats at a cost of Rs 6 lakh are being added for rescue operations. Each boat is capable of carrying two rescuers.
In addition, 70 life jackets are being purchased. This will be along with five specialised hydraulic cutters designed to operate underwater.
These Rs 15 lakh cutters will be capable of cutting through submerged boats or watercraft at depths of up to 25 meters.
The total equipment procurement will cost nearly Rs 6 crore. This will strengthen the capacity to respond to emergencies in the Ganga as well as large water bodies across Kolkata.
