The State police are likely to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for traffic and crowd surveillance in Sabarimala this year.
K. Padakumar, Additional Director General of Police, South Zone, and Chief Police Coordinator, Sabarimala, told The Hindu on Saturday that the proposed “eye in the sky” would provide the law enforcement an overview of pilgrim movement in real time.
This would help the police pre-empt crowding, stampedes, and traffic pile-ups through more informed decision-making.
For one, aerial surveillance would help the police regulate parking of vehicles in Sabarimala better.
He said the police hoped to enlist the service of certain private companies which provided drones for civilian purposes, including land survey.
The police were scouting for camera-equipped drones capable of maintaining an “unblinking watch” over a large area for several hours at a stretch and relay video and still pictures to their ground controllers in real time.
The UAVs should be easily transportable to emergency spots and capable of being launched, flown and retrieved, irrespective of the weather condition and the nature of the terrain.
Three firmsSo far at least three private companies have evinced their interest in collaborating with the police on the project.
They have given senior officers a practical demonstration of the surveillance potential of their drones.
The pilgrimage season at the hill temple starts on November 16. The deployment of drones, if any, would be only during the peak season.
Last year, an estimated 30 million devotees visited Sabarimala.
The police expect the number to increase this year.
Hence, two companies of the National Disaster Relief Force and one company of the Rapid Action Force would be deployed this season. Quick reaction teams comprising police commandos would be deployed at the Sannidhanam and Pampa to respond to armed threats, if any.
The police would also deploy an array of newly acquired anti-sabotage equipment, including baggage scanners, to counter bomb threats.
Special squads have been formed to counter threats to the temple from Maoists.
