Drone surveillance deployed in Jubilee Hills by-election for first time in India

Hyderabad: Polling for the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election continued smoothly on Tuesday under tight security, with drone surveillance introduced for the first time in India to monitor the process.

Jubilee Hills by-election uses drones for surveillance

The innovative measure saw 139 drones deployed to oversee 407 polling stations across the constituency. This aerial monitoring system provided real-time visuals of polling activities, helping officials respond quickly to any irregularities.

The District Election Officer and GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan personally inspected the polling arrangements from the air using a drone. He reviewed security and voter movement at key locations, ensuring transparency and order throughout the process.

First-of-its-kind initiative in India

Officials said this marks the first instance of comprehensive aerial surveillance of all polling stations within a single constituency in India. The initiative aimed to strengthen election monitoring, enhance coordination, and improve voter safety.

The by-election in Jubilee Hills was necessitated by the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year. Authorities confirmed that polling was proceeding peacefully, with voter turnout showing steady growth through the day.