Nagpur : In a bid to enhance safety at water bodies during the monsoon season, the Nagpur District Disaster Management Department has introduced a remote-controlled watercraft at Makardhokda Lake as part of a pilot initiative here, on Thursday, April 17. The move aims to prevent drowning incidents, which often occur due to risky behavior by visitors at lakes and dams that attract tourists during the rainy season.

The experimental project was conceptualized by District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar following the tragic drowning of a youth at Makardhokda Lake in August 2024. Under the guidance of Resident Deputy Collector Anup Khande, the Disaster Management Department procured the remote-operated watercraft to provide swift assistance in water rescue operations.

The device is designed to reach drowning victims quickly, offering critical support until human responders arrive. As part of the plan, trained personnel will be deployed alongside the watercraft during the monsoon season to ensure rapid response.

Two local youths from the Makardhokda gram panchayat have been trained to operate the equipment and will receive honorariums from the company supplying the watercraft. The device was officially handed over to the Makardhokda gram panchayat, and a demonstration and inspection were conducted on April 9 in the presence of District Disaster Management Officer Ankush Gawande, Naib Tehsildar Wade, and local villagers.

District authorities have indicated that if the pilot project proves successful, similar remote-controlled rescue equipment may be introduced at other lakes and reservoirs across Nagpur district to bolster water safety infrastructure.