In South Asia, drones are connecting remote villagers to life-saving services ‘like never before’
- South Asia is betting on drones to connect to remote areas that were previously barely accessible for even essential services
- The success of drone use in India has also boosted adoption in neighbouring countries like Nepal
When snakebite antidotes had to be rushed to India’s remote mountainous Ziro Valley last December, Indian authorities turned to the quickest means of transport available – drone delivery.
Deep in the Himalayan ranges, a typical journey would have involved a treacherous car ride, boat crossing of an icy river followed by an arduous uphill climb, which can take up to eight hours, depending on conditions.
“We did it in 28 minutes,” said Vikram Singh, founder of Tech Eagle Innovations, the drone firm which delivered the antivenom.
The company has now set up a drone base in the remote, mountainous northeastern Meghalaya state, the first of its kind hub, connecting to around 15 remote locations within a 50km (31-mile) radius.
Home to the world’s tallest mountains, desert expanses and marsh lands, South Asia is betting on drones to connect to remote areas that were previously barely accessible for even essential services.
The use of drones got a big boost in August 2021 when the Indian government loosened its stringent drone policy, slashing the number of permits needed to operate drones from 25 to five.
The World Economic Forum provided a template for how drone technology could be used under a Medicines From the Sky project launched with the government of southern Telangana state.