ISRO defends role in rescue operations in Uttarakhand

SRIHARIKOTA: Defending its role in the rescue operations in the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, ISRO today said the agency had played its role in the largest rescue operations in the country, saving thousands of lives.

"We did our role in the rescue operations by providing imagery and equipment," ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan told reporters here soon after the space agency launched India's first dedicated navigation satellite IRNSS-1A on board the PSLV-C22, which blasted off at 11.41 PM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here last night.

Replying to a query on the the space agency's assistance during the relief operations, he said, "We have been taking and providing imagery of the affected areas as early as June 17 to the concerned agencies."

"We gave 12 satellite phones and other communication equipment for the use of the personnel, engaged in the relief operations. Over 1,000 calls have been made using them," he said.

ISRO was and still is in touch with the Uttarakhand government, Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority, he said.