Satellites That ‘Think’ Could Change How India Responds to Disasters

Every year, natural disasters disrupt millions of lives in India. Floods, glacial bursts and landslides often strike without warning, leaving officials scrambling to organise relief. The damage is measured not just in lives lost but also in homes destroyed and livelihoods interrupted.  One of the biggest challenges is speed. Emergency teams often wait hours—or even days—for reliable ground information before they can act. By the time data arrives, the chance to prevent the worst damage has already slipped away. Space-based observation has long promised a solution. Satellites can capture images of unfolding events across vast areas that would otherwise be hard to reach. Yet, the usefulness of those images is determined by how quickly they can be delivered.  GS Sriniva