Critical role of amateur radio operators when calamity strikes

The term — HAM (Hertz-Armstrong-Marconi) — was derived after putting together the first letters of the names of three scientists considered pioneers in the field of radio communication: Heinrich Hertz, Edwin Howard Armstrong, and Guglielmo Marconi.

Even as it left a trail of destruction, Cyclone Biparjoy, fortunately, did not hit the mobile or landline network in the state. Consequently, the HAM operators’ services were not pressed by the authorities.

Ham radio operators have been part of the state government’s plans to deal with natural calamities like cyclones and floods ever since the 2001 earthquake struck Gujarat.

During the preparations of Cyclone Biparjoy, teams of Ham operators were set up at vulnerable places like Porbandar, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Naliya, Nakhatrana, and Morbi to keep the communication channel open with the SEOC where a team was constituted to convey the messages to the state authorities.

The teams of Ham operators have been set up under the aegis of the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR), recognised by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The GIAR was established in 2001 after the massive earthquake, which killed thousands, and is being headed by retired IAS officer SK Nanda as its chairperson.

Parimal Purohit, Joint Secretary of GIAR, was a part of the team stationed at SEOC ahead of Biparjoy’s landfall.

Recalling the 2006 Surat floods

Speaking with The Indian Express, Purohit said, “The last time Ham Radio operators’ services were used by the state government was in 2006 when Surat was hit by floods. Due to heavy waterlogging, there was a power failure in Surat.  Consequently, communication networks – like the internet, mobile and landline phones – got disrupted. As a result, Surat got disconnected from the outside world in terms of communication.”

Purohit said a team of HAMs was sent to the city that provided emergency communication services to the state control room in terms of the situation of flooding in various areas, and relief required. The state government took steps accordingly, he said.

Pravin Valera, another Joint Secretary of GIAR and considered a ‘Guru’ in amateur radio communication by many including Purohit, also recalled the experience during the 2006 Surat floods.

“Due to the disruption of the communication system of mobile and phone network, we sent six teams to Surat and we set up Ham radio stations at various places like Surat Circuit House, Collector office, and Commissioner office. and we ensured communication was resumed,” he said.  Valera is a retired Gujarat police inspector and is still providing his services to the state police on a contract basis.

A meeting with Manmohan Singh

Pravin Valera stressed the Ham radio operators from Gujarat have provided their services outside Gujarat during natural calamities like the 2004 Nepal earthquake and the 2004 tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar. He shared he clearly remembered the tsunami experience when he also met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“Andaman and Nicobar islands were very far from here (Gujarat). It was risky too because people were migrating. Due to the tsunami, people were thinking that the water will come again. The team that I had headed was at Campbell Bay, the southernmost island. We provided communication for 14 days. There was massive chaos. Lots of people were missing. We provided the data through HAMs,” said Valera.

“Back then, our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had especially met us (in Andaman and Nicobar) — the Ham radio operators. He spoke to us. His first reaction was – ‘Far away from Gujarat, you are operating here in this condition!’ We told him that the Gujarat government has sent us. After the 2001 earthquake, we had experience in handling emergency communication. He showed a lot of interest,” Valera shared.

“Dr Singh was curious about the working of the Ham operators. We explained it works from the ionosphere and requires no connectivity. Through the ionosphere, high-frequency waves travel. For that, we don’t require an internet connection or any sort of support. You just install a wireless set, antenna and it runs on a 12 vault battery and you are in contact with the entire world,” he added.