Indian Army placed an order of Rs 420 crores for ‘snow heaters’.
‘Alocal cream’ will protect soldiers from diseases caused by cold.
New Delhi, 10 January: The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed new heating equipment ‘Him Tapak’ and ‘Alocal Cream’ to protect Indian troops from extreme winter condition stationed in eastern Ladakh, Siachen and high altitude areas.
The Indian Army has placed an order of Rs 420 crore for ‘Him Tapak’ and 3.5 lakh jars for ‘Alokal Cream’ to DRDO. Both these products will protect the troops deployed in areas with extreme winters.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has prepared a different type of device for Indian soldiers deployed in the security of the country, regardless of their lives on the border. In view of the deaths of Indian jawans from poisonous gases like carbon dioxide released during the back blast, this device called Snow Heater has been designed. This will reduce the deaths due to poisonous gas of Indian soldiers.
Hence, the use of this device will help in reducing the difficulties of Indian soldiers on duty in cold areas like Ladakh. This device will be used in other high snowy areas including East Ladakh, Siachen.
The DRDO made three reforms in this, reducing the consumption of oil by almost half. Due to this, there will be a savings of 3,650 crores in a year. Kerosene is used in snow heating. It also does not leave any harmful gas in the room. It is also economical as it requires only 500 to 700 milliliters of kerosene per hour. It provides comfortable warmth to the room and is environmentally friendly. A snow heater reduces emissions of one tonne of carbon dioxide and 0.3 tonnes of black carbon annually.
The soldiers deployed in the eastern Ladakh, Siachen and icy areas are disturbed due to the dangerous cold and weather conditions. A large number of soldiers have their hands and feet injured. Aloe Vera-based ‘Alocal Cream’ has been successfully studied on soldiers deployed in icy areas for the prevention of injuries and wounds caused by cold. This cream will protect soldiers from wounds caused by cold.
According to the DRDO officials, Frostbite is a major health hazard and serious medical problem for the armed forces. It is responsible for the loss of a large number of hands and toes. This cream has also been found to be effective in reducing diseases caused by frostbite in soldiers deployed in glacier areas. This cream prevents cold injury, bacterial infection, burns, ulcers, wounds and surgical dressing of the skin.
In addition, sunburn protects the cheeks, lips and fingers. The army has ordered 3.5 lakh jars of ‘Alocal Cream’ for the soldiers posted in other cold regions.
Director of DRDO’s Institute of Defense Sciences and Allied Sciences, Dr Rajiv Varshney said that the Indian Army has placed orders worth Rs 420 crore for ‘snow heaters’. These devices will be installed in all the new houses of Army and ITBP in areas of extreme winters deployed in eastern Ladakh, Siachen and low temperature elevation areas.
โThis device will ensure that seals are not killed due to backblast and carbon monoxide poisoning. He said that DRDO has developed ‘Alocal Cream’ to protect soldiers deployed in extreme cold areas from frostbite, chillblains and other cold injuries. The Indian Army personnel stationed in East Ladakh, Siachen and other areas are victims of cold; hence the army has ordered to buy 3 to 3.5 lakh jars of this cream,โ Varshney added.
DRDO scientist Satish Chauhan said that in order to get rid of the problem of drinking water in eastern Ladakh and other high altitudes, a trial of snow melting device is going on under sunlight.
He said that the equipment is currently being tested in Siachen, Khardungla and Tawang. It can provide 5 to 7 liters of water every hour.
