India, Nov. 4 -- When disasters strike - whether floods, earthquakes, forest fires, or cyclones - success in rescue and relief operations often depends not only on the courage of responders but equally on the quality and usability of the tools they wield. Across the world, and particularly in India, the equipment deployed during search and rescue missions is often found wanting - obsolete, inadequate, or ill-suited to the terrain and conditions in which it must function.

The same standardised gear is used in vastly different environments - floodplains, mountain slopes, dense forests, or collapsed urban structures - leading to inefficiencies, slower response times, and sometimes, preventable loss of life.

It is increasingly recognised th...