Bhubaneswar: An Odisha-based deep tech startup has emerged as a crucial player in India’s disaster response landscape, with its drone technology proving life-saving during the recent landslides in Lachen, Sikkim. The successful deployment has not only highlighted the Indian Army’s increasing reliance on indigenous solutions but also showcased Odisha’s growing footprint in the country’s innovation ecosystem.
On 1 June 2025, massive monsoon-triggered landslides struck Lachen, about 123 km from Gangtok, claiming the lives of three soldiers and leaving six others missing. In a bold and agile move, the Indian Army turned to BonV Aero, a startup with roots in Odisha, for rapid search and recovery under the treacherous conditions.Unlike conventional high-altitude landslide rescues that depend heavily on SDRF teams sniffer dogs, manual digging, and ground-based GPR equipment, this operation marked a significant shift. BonV Aero’s Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) drone flew over the debris, using cutting-edge sensors to detect buried anomalies without disturbing the unstable terrain.Within 24 hours of the disaster, the Indian Army integrated the startup’s drone into the rescue mission. The UAV’s data pinpointed two critical locations–at depths of 0.76 m and 0.015 m-where excavation later confirmed human remains.
“The Indian Army’s swift adoption of our technology speaks volumes about the growing confidence in homegrown solutions,” said Satyabarata Satapathy, CEO of BonV Aero.
“As an Odisha-based startup, we are proud that our innovation could make a difference where it mattered most.”BonV Aero’s breakthrough technology offers a game-changing advantage in disaster- prone, hard-to-access Himalayan regions. Traditional rescue techniques often falter in such conditions due to weather, snow, waterlogged debris, and unstable rocks. The GPR drone, however, scanned these hazardous zones safely, mapping real-time subsurface data that guided ground teams with surgical precision.”
What sets this drone apart is its ability to ‘see’ beneath the surface while keeping rescue teams out of harm’s way,’ said Abinash Sahoo, Chief Technology Officer, BonV Aero.”This technology can redefine how India responds to landslides and similar disasters.” The Lachen mission stands as a proud moment for Odisha’s startup ecosystem, demonstrating how local innovation can play a critical role in national emergencies. As India accelerates its push towards self-reliance in defence and disaster management success stories like BonV Aero’s signal th at Odisha’s homegrown enterprises are ready to deliver on frontlines.
