An avalanche monitoring radar, the first of its kind in India, has been installed in North Sikkim by the Army and Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment.
Key points
- The radar was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Tarun Kumar Aich, General Officer Commanding of Sukna-based 33 Corps, on September 20 at an altitude of 15,000 feet.
- The radar, which can see at night, is an all-weather solution that covers an area of 2 sq/km.
- The device uses a series of short microwave pulses which are scattered at the target.
- It can permanently scan the targeted slope for avalanche release and track its path and size, the Indian Army said.
- The radar is also linked to an alarm system enabling automatic control and warning measures. Images and videos of the event are recorded for future analysis by experts.
- It can detect avalanches within three seconds of its trigger and will assist in saving lives of troops and reducing damage to property.
- The radar was made operational by DGRE, a lab under the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), which is involved in forecasting and mitigation of avalanche hazards faced by the Army in the Himalayan region.
What is an avalanche?
- An avalanche is a large amount of snow moving quickly down a mountain, typically on slopes of 30 to 45 degrees.
- When an avalanche stops, the snow becomes solid like concrete and people are unable to dig out. People caught in avalanches can die from suffocation, trauma or hypothermia.
- Avalanches are a bane for soldiers posted in high altitude areas and a number of them have lost their lives in such incidents.
