A year after a robotic rescue craft was deployed at Makardhokda Dam in Umred taluka, authorities report no drowning deaths at the popular water body, prompting the Nagpur district administration to consider expanding the technology to other high-risk locations, including Zilpi Lake. Ankush Gawande, District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO), said the Collectorate, under the guidance of Kumar Ashirwad, District Collector, is planning to extend the robotic rescue service to at least two more drowning-prone sites. Zilpi Lake, which has witnessed multiple drowning incidents in recent years, is among the locations under consideration, while another site will be identified after a detailed assessment.

 

The robotic rescue craft was commissioned at Makardhokda Dam last year under a three-year contract worth around Rs 19 lakh. The arrangement includes the craft, trained manpower and operational support provided by VMCC India. The dam attracts an estimated one lakh visitors annually, with footfall peaking around Independence Day and other holidays. According to Swapnil Gillurkar, a volunteer and leader of the District Disaster Management Gram Panchayat team at Makardhokda, the battery-operated craft remains on 24-hour standby and can be deployed even after visiting hours. At least two trained remote operators are available at the site at all times.

 

The craft requires around three hours for a full charge and can operate continuously for about 40 minutes, though most rescue interventions are completed within two to three minutes. Gillurkar said, the system has become an important part of water safety operations. Besides two confirmed near-drowning rescues, operators have used the craft on several occasions to approach and assist visitors who appeared to be in distress, preventing situations from escalating into emergencies. The technology has also been deployed at tourist destinations in Raigad district, including Kashid, Nagaon and Harihareshwar beaches, where it has assisted rescue teams in responding to water emergencies. If approved, the expansion would bring robotic rescue capability to some of Nagpur’s most vulnerable water bodies.