Amateur Radio to Support Emergency Communications to Hospitals in Natural Calamities

Abstract

The recent Wynad Landslide was a major natural calamity in our region which resulted in almost complete washout of a small town on a hilltop. The communication network was also down along with it. Emergency relief workers found it difficult to communicate with the District Headquarters in the early hours of the disaster from Ground Zero. Dr. Abraham Jacob, Pulmonologist working Kerala Health Service in Wynad, who is also a well-known amateur radio operator, was called upon by the District Administrator to provide emergency communications between the Ground Zero and the District Headquarters. He immediately arranged an ad hoc amateur radio station at the District Headquarters and a team of radio amateurs from Wynad proceeded to Ground Zero to provide wireless connectivity as the mobile network was down.