A drone delivering frozen chicken crashed into a residential society in Gurugram on Thursday, according to police reports. They also mentioned that an FIR was registered against the company operating the drone for breaching CrPC Section 144, which was enforced in the city.
The drone was being operated by Skye Air when it crashed into G Block of South City 2 society in Gurugram’s Sector 50. According to police reports, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was visiting the city at the time, and there was an active order under Section 144 of the CrPC regarding unmanned aerial devices.
Drones are allowed to transport items weighing less than 5 kg, and the payload of this specific drone was within that limit. According to the complainant quoted by the Indian Express, the drone crashed into the building and descended.
The police have requested the necessary permissions and documents required for the operation of the drone during the implementation of the order. Currently, an investigation is in progress.
The drone was on its way to deliver food from Vipul Trade Centre to Fresco Apartments when it crashed just 50 meters away from its intended destination.
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A representative from Skye Air stated that the company has obtained all requisite approvals and permissions for conducting drone operations along the designated route.
“As per our findings, we had to do an emergency landing due to a sudden object coming in the path. No loss of lives or any major damage has been reported. Skye Air has all the required permissions from local authorities too. The company has been testing this system with zero incidents and has completed thousands of flights. We ensure maximum safety with parachutes and ADSB on board,” a Skye Air official as quoted in several media reports.
This comes at a time when drone startups are thriving, following the Center’s relaxation of policies governing drone operations in India through the Drones Rules 2021.
A series of positive measures have been introduced for the sector. For instance, the Cabinet’s approval of a INR 120 crore PLI scheme, a ban on drone imports to promote domestic manufacturing, and the implementation of a drone certification scheme to uphold safety and quality requirements are among the notable steps taken.
Furthermore, the introduction of digital airspace mapping for drones, along with initiatives like Drone Shakti and Kisan drones, has been lauded as a positive step by experts.
As technology advances and regulations evolve, the future of drone delivery in India is becoming increasingly promising. With improved capabilities and a conducive regulatory framework, there is anticipation for a significant expansion of drone delivery services in the near future, reshaping logistics across the country.
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