COVID-19 vaccines were recently transported to International Border (IB) in the Marh area of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The Octacopter drone has been developed indigenously in Bengaluru at the initiative of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

The first consignment of 50 vials of COVID-19 vaccine was dropped by the drone near the IB in Marh area. On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science & Technology, in the presence of Advisor Health to Lieutenant Governor Jammu & Kashmir Rajeev Bhatnagar, formally handed over the first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine to drone operators, who then mounted the same on the drone which it took off for its air journey.

The road distance from Jammu to Marh is about 15 km and takes 50 to 60 minutes by road, but the Octacopter delivered the vaccine within 20 minutes. CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) and CSIR-IIIM have teamed with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Jammu for aerial delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in remote areas.