Engineering Students In Jhansi Innovate Drones To Aid Firefighting In Narrow Streets

A fire broke out at a showroom in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh recently where four people, including a woman, were killed. Similarly, there have been many such fire incidents in Jhansi last year. Due to the narrow streets in the city, the fire department often gets late to the accident spot resulting in increased casualties. To find a quick solution to unexpected fires, students of Jhansi-based Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIET) have built drones that can reach accident spots and extinguish fires. It may not be as effective as fire extinguishers or water vehicles but it can help to control fire before the fire department reaches the accident site.

The drone was prepared by the students and teachers at Jhansi-based Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology (BIET) together in the drone club formed. A special box has been installed in this drone in which carbon dioxide balls or spheres are kept. The ball will be dropped in the fire. It can control the fire to some extent. The students have made this drone at the cost of about Rs 40,000. The drone club at BIET will soon get a patent on their design to produce more of its kind. The availability of such drones can help in controlling the fire. It also gives the fire department breathing time after several fire accidents in the city.

Drone Club in-charge Dr Sunil Kumar Gupta said this drone was made to prevent incidents of arson. The novel idea of extinguishing fire through drones has been called Firefighting Drone. It is capable of extinguishing fire anywhere within a radius of 5 kilometres. Apart from making the work of the fire department easy, these firefighting drones can be controlled by a common man, leading to the active participation of the locals in extinguishing fires. The test of its prototype has been successful. Now its design is being prepared to be launched in the market after making a deal with a private company. The inventors will also try to deal with the Indian government for the reach and availability of firefighting drones.