Technology

Hyderabad Student Builds Low‑Cost Satellite Receiver to Deliver Weather Images to Remote Himalayan Villages

By TOI Lifestyle Desk

A Class 12 student from Hyderabad, Aagam Jain, has designed a satellite‑based weather receiver called SummitSathi that can download cloud images directly from weather satellites without requiring an internet connection or mobile network. The device, built with readily available components, costs about Rs 68,000 per unit. Three receivers are planned for installation across ten villages in Seraj Valley, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. Local operators have already been trained to use the equipment. The team clarified that SummitSathi is not a cloudburst prediction system and does not replace official weather forecasts, warnings or emergency alerts; it simply provides an additional source of weather‑related information through satellite imagery. Jain, who attends Indus International School, has also conducted independent research in astronomy and environmental studies, recording night‑sky brightness at 25 locations in Hyderabad and publishing an astrophotography book titled A Window to the Universe. The project aims to address the frequent loss of mobile connectivity in the Himalayas during heavy rain, which can hinder access to crucial weather information.