Can help Kerala with satellite imagery: ISRO arm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: A state-run remote sensing agency has offered to provide Kerala with satellite images of the state's terrain to help prevent tragedies like the one that occurred near the Sabrimala temple last week that claimed 102 lives.

"We have all the data for this and since the cost involved for making three dimensional imagery is huge, it would be more practical if the state government tells us which terrain it wants mapped," V. Jayaraman, director of the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), told IANS on the phone.

"A particular area can be terrain mapped and with this, the state government and the police can make the necessary plans for crowd control," he added.

However, the images cannot be provided in real time as the satellites are constantly in orbit and not stationed over any particular spot, Jayaraman pointed out.

He also said that Andhra Pradesh has extensively used satellite imaging in their disaster management efforts.

The NRSC is an arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), whose chairman, K. Radhakrishnan said earlier Monday that with the help of three dimensional images, the Kerala government could improve the infrastructure facilities in Sabarimala and prevent disasters like what happened Friday night.

Friday was the most important day in the Sabarimala pilgrimage as a celestial light appears on the horizon, which can be seen even 30 km from the temple town.

Many pilgrims had gathered near Pulmedu, about 30 km from Sabarimala temple, and were watching the celestial Makara Jyothi when a barricade broke and a stampede occurred, killing 102 pilgrims.