Gujarat Earthquake Inspired Dhruva Space: Indian Startup Builds Satellites for Disaster Relief

When the 2001 Gujarat earthquake struck, 13-year-old Sanjay Nekkanti watched as HAM radio operators became a critical lifeline for rescue efforts. That moment sparked a question that would shape his future: if simple radios could work when networks failed, what could space technology do?

Today, Nekkanti is the CEO and co-founder of Dhruva Space, a Hyderabad-based startup that builds satellites and ground infrastructure for disaster response, climate monitoring, and more. The company, founded in 2012 with three others, offers end-to-end services from satellite design to mission operations.

Dhruva Space’s satellites help authorities track cyclones, monitor floods, and assess damage when ground communication fails. The company also supports agriculture, logistics, and national security through Earth observation data.

With over 550 Indian suppliers and a new 280,000 sq ft facility in Telangana, Dhruva Space is helping India become a major player in the global space economy. Nekkanti believes space will become as essential as the internet, and his journey from a Gujarat schoolboy to a space entrepreneur is a testament to that vision.

Article and image source: thebetterindia.com