While the rest of the world relies on fiber optics and satellite links, the police in the coastal state of Odisha, India, still look to the skies for a more ancient form of “wireless” communication. Known as the Odisha Police Pigeon Service, it is believed to be the only functioning carrier pigeon corps left in the world.
A Heritage of Reliability
Launched in 1946, the service was originally an experiment by the British-led administration to connect remote police stations in a state where telephones were non-existent and the terrain was rugged. The army provided 200 Belgian Homer pigeons, a breed famous for its incredible navigation and stamina.
The service gained legendary status during the 1982 floods and the Super Cyclone of 1999. When the power grids failed and wireless towers were flattened, the pigeons were the only messengers able to fly through the storms, delivering vital intelligence on casualties and food shortages to the state headquarters in Cuttack.
How the “Pigeongram” Works
The process remains largely unchanged since the Mughal era:
- The Message: Brief notes are written on ultra-lightweight onion paper.
- The Capsule: The paper is rolled into a tiny plastic or copper capsule and strapped to the bird’s leg.
- The Flight: Once released, the birds can fly up to 500 miles at speeds of roughly 35 to 55 km/h, navigating via the Earth’s magnetic field and the sun to find their home loft.
Why Keep Them Today?
In an era of 5G and instant messaging, the service is largely ceremonial and symbolic. About 150 pigeons are still maintained at lofts in Cuttack and Angul, where they participate in Independence Day and Republic Day parades.
However, the Odisha government views them as more than just a novelty. Proponents argue they are the ultimate “fail-safe”—a communication system that requires no electricity, cannot be hacked, and can survive a total grid collapse. To the people of Odisha, these birds are a living heritage, a reminder of a time when the fastest way to send a “tweet” was through the beat of a wing.
Pigeons of Odisha Police Keep Glorious Past Alive (NDTV): A great overview showing the lofts in Cuttack and how the pigeons are cared for
