Rescue teams are using a specialised victim location camera to search for survivors following a landslide in Mumbai’s Kurla area that killed six people on Wednesday. Five others were feared trapped beneath the debris after the landslide occurred at Gaushiya Chawl in Ghatkopar’s Chirag Nagar. The device is being used to inspect gaps and voids that rescuers may not be able to access directly.

A victim location camera is a specialised search-and-rescue device designed to help locate people trapped beneath rubble following building collapses, landslides, earthquakes and other structural disasters. It can also be used in difficult environments such as deep borewells and underwater locations. The system combines a camera with lighting and audio equipment, allowing rescue personnel to search confined spaces while remaining outside the debris.

The camera has a 5-megapixel imaging system designed to operate in very low-light conditions. Built-in LED lights can illuminate spaces up to around six metres, allowing rescuers to examine areas that cannot be reached safely by hand. The camera is mounted on a lightweight, rigid telescopic probe that can extend up to about five metres and can be pushed through small openings in the rubble.

Also Read: 13 Killed In Himachal Pradesh After Cab Buried In Lahaul-Spiti Landslide

When the debris is deeper, the camera can also be connected to a cable extending up to about 20 metres. Rescuers can remotely move the camera to inspect different directions, with the system capable of rotating up to 360 degrees and moving from side to side. The equipment also includes a microphone and speaker, enabling rescue teams to listen for sounds from people who may be trapped and communicate with them where possible.

The camera feed is transmitted to display screens that allow rescuers to examine the spaces beneath the debris in real time. The system includes a main monitor of at least 10 inches and a secondary monitor of at least seven inches, while a separate wireless monitor can display images from a distance of roughly 20 to 25 metres. Battery operation can support several hours of use, with an external power backup capable of extending the system’s operating time.

If there is no suitable opening through which to insert the probe, rescuers can create a small access hole using a heavy-duty core drilling machine. The specified system includes a petrol-powered core drill and diamond-tipped bits capable of creating holes of about 50 to 55 millimetres. Such equipment allows teams to search otherwise inaccessible voids while limiting the need to remove large amounts of debris before checking for possible survivors.

Also Read: Kedarnath Yatra Halted After Landslide Blocks Pilgrimage Trek Route