MANDI: Delivering mail and essential supplies to the rugged and inaccessible terrains of Himachal Pradesh has become high-tech. The Department of Posts has successfully launched an advanced drone postal service from Mandi to the Rehardhar branch in the Drang assembly constituency.
Partnering with Sky Air, the pilot project achieved a historic milestone by delivering mail in just 6 to 7 minutes—a journey that previously took an entire day through steep mountainous roads.
In earlier times, people relied on pigeons to send messages across distances, later replaced by postmen and vehicles. In today’s digital era, the postal department has taken a technological leap, introducing what is being called an “electronic pigeon.”
The maiden drone flight carried mail and parcels from the Head Post Office in Mandi to the remote Rehardhar branch, covering a one-way aerial distance of roughly 5 to 6 kilometers. Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of the Head Post Office, explained that under normal circumstances, sending accounts branch mail through traditional routes took a full day due to the difficult geography. The drone completed the task in minutes and returned to Mandi with the day’s return mail.
According to Subhash Dubey, an employee of Sky Air, the specialized drone is capable of carrying a payload of up to 10 kilograms. It can cover a distance of 30 to 50 kilometers in a single flight. The system is equipped with real-time tracking, allowing officials to live-monitor the exact location of the mail while it is in transit.
Mandi Postmaster Neha Sankhyan stated that this modern facility is being introduced across 150 selected locations in India through Sky Air. In Mandi district, 10 of the most difficult and remote areas have been selected for the initial phase. The company has deployed 8 advanced drones to maintain a regular postal service here, ensuring that residents in remote, snow-bound hill villages receive money orders, medicines, and urgent documents without delay.
Postal department officials expressed satisfaction with the eco-friendly initiative. The implementation is a direct result of feedback gathered during interactions between top department officials, rural postal workers, and postal assistants. Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the department aims to use technology to connect citizens living in the most far-flung corners of the country with mainstream development and opportunities.
In a major push towards tech-driven postal services, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced the launch of a drone-based mail and parcel delivery service by India Post on the Mandi-Rehardhar route in Himachal Pradesh.
The new drone service transforms mail delivery in the region. A journey through difficult terrain that previously took hours to cover will now be completed in just seven minutes. The service also comes equipped with real-time tracking features.
According to the Union Minister, this environmentally sustainable initiative emerged directly from feedback shared by Gramin Dak Sevaks and Postal Assistants during several interactions.
Scindia stated that the initiative is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of harnessing technology to strengthen postal services. He added that the step ensures the remotest corners of the country are connected to the opportunities and services of a rapidly transforming nation.
Drone से डाक, अब गाँव तक ✉️📦🇮🇳
An absolute pleasure to announce the launch of drone-based mail and parcel delivery by @IndiaPostOffice on the Mandi-Rehardhar route in Himachal Pradesh.
A journey that earlier took hours through difficult terrain will now be completed in just… pic.twitter.com/905sUVILXL
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) June 13, 2026
