The French nationals who disappeared 20 days back have not been traced as yet. The police point out that had they been equipped with satellite phones or GPS, they could have easily contacted the authorities in Dharamshala to tell their exact location.
The picturesque Kullu valley attracts thousands of backpackers from foreign countries every year. A haven for tourists from Israel, Italy, UK, Germany and France, it has also gained notoriety for charas and missing foreign trekkers. In the last seven years, 21 deaths have been reported, while 19 foreigners have gone missing in Kullu since 1992.
Known for the tough geographical conditions in the interiors, landline phones are not available in this area while mobile phones often do not work due to poor network. At such places satellite phones could prove the difference between life and death.
Dhawan said sattelite phones and GPS would help in saving precious lives of missing trekkers. He said all private tour operators in Kullu district would be warned not to conduct treks without informing the police. "A trekking team would have to inform the police about the route plan of the group and provided a satellite phone and GPS to enable so quick tracking in case of any emergency."
As the use of satellite phones is banned in Himachal Pradesh due to its strategic location, it has been decided to fix a frequency to ensure safety. "These would only be used during an emergency by the trekkers and no international call would be allowed. These phones would allotted to the group on rent and only after taking security," SP added.
Kullu police have planned to use satellite phones and GPS for the cannabis eradication programme as their teams face problems in establishing contact with the district headquarter from remote locations.
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