Thermal Drones Save 2,000 Lives in Punjab Floods

APP

Lahore: When devastating floods swept across Punjab this year, rescue workers faced the daunting task of locating stranded families in submerged villages and towns. But a new tool has transformed disaster response: thermal drone technology.

Introduced by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) and integrated into Rescue 1122 operations, these drones have already helped save more than 2,000 people trapped in rising waters across districts including Sialkot, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Gujrat, and Jhang.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad explained how the system works. Equipped with advanced infrared sensors, the drones detect the heat signatures of people and animals and convert them into thermal images. These real-time feeds are instantly transmitted to Rescue 1122 and local administrations, enabling rapid assessments and precise rescues.

“The PSCA shares thermal images with our teams, which helps us locate and rescue people and even animals more efficiently,” Ahmad said. “Technology has not only improved rescue operations but also saved valuable time during emergencies.”

The technology, he emphasized, cannot prevent natural disasters but can drastically reduce their toll. Ahmad also pointed out that technology works best when communities cooperate:

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“If people start taking early warnings from the meteorological department seriously and prepare in advance, we can significantly minimize damage and save more lives.”

For the PSCA, this initiative marks a turning point in how technology is applied to public safety. Director Omar Khayyam noted that Punjab’s adoption of thermal drones is among the first in South Asia and draws on lessons from countries like the United States and those in Europe.

“We have successfully piloted thermal drone technology, which has already proven highly effective elsewhere, including recent floods in Texas where similar drones were used to locate survivors and victims,” he said.

Looking ahead, Khayyam suggested that integrating artificial intelligence could take disaster response a step further, allowing predictive analysis and even faster decision-making.

“We at PSCA will always look for more innovations and developments to make people of Punjab safer,” he stressed.

As climate-induced disasters grow in frequency and intensity, Punjab’s experiment with thermal drones may offer a model for other South Asian nations struggling to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. For the thousands of citizens already rescued, it is proof that technology, when combined with preparedness and community cooperation, can be a life-saving force.