Kolkata cops to get scuba gear for Hooghly rescue operations

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police is acquiring advanced gears that will allow divers to remain under water for longer time and dive deeper in the Hooghly while relaying images and communicating to teams above. These gears will also allow the cops to train divers.
According to Disaster Management Group (DMG) sources, the divers of this specialised unit are forced to dive into the Hooghly for rescue operations at least four to five times a month with people attempting suicide or drowning while trying to swim.In the past two months alone, 31 people attempted suicide from Vidyasagar Setu while 11 of them lost their lives. "These rescue operations need expertise and modern equipment. We were looking for equipment that will help us stay in touch with our divers under water," said an officer.

Cops said the tendering process would be over by April 18 for buying the new BA scuba diving system acquisition. "This new diving suits will allow our divers to stay under water for longer. The face mask will be equipped with a surface valve for switching to surface air and can connect with communication systems or even video cameras to record the operation or show it live. This will also have an unit called Octopus that will be used in case of an emergency when air supply to face mask fails," said an officer.
The other equipment that will be installed in the body suit include a regulator (to convert cylinder HP pressure to low pressure), a console (combined unit to check the air pressure in the cylinder and the depth of diver position accordingly), main cylinder and buoyancy compensating device that will be comfortable to wear and have provision for mounting cylinder and other accessories on the set, said cops.
The estimated cost of DMG equipment - that will include seven pairs of diving shoes and gloves, combination rescue apparatus, advanced braking system and Telescopic Pole Pruner - is pegged at around Rs 47.5 lakh.