INTEGRATED HEADQUARTERS OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (NAVY)
RELIEF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY INDIAN NAVY
Today a total of 27 ships, 16 helicopters and 5 fixed wing aircrafts of the Indian Navy are engaged in the relief operations. In addition, the naval bases located near the Tsunami hit areas have been rendering immense contribution towards expediting the process of restoring normalcy. Over 4500 Indian Naval personnel are committed to these operations. Approximately 680 Tons of relief supplies (like Tents, Gensets, Desalination Plants, Blankets, etc), including 300 Tons of provisions and 10 Tons of medicines have been delivered by the naval ships and aircraft to the affected areas.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Op SEA WAVES)
INS Jyoti continues to be deployed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for providing the essential stores and fuel for IN ships deployed in relief operations.
INS Brahmaputra ex-Western Naval Command with two Chetak helicopters disembarked relief material at Port Blair 06 Jan 05 and is scheduled to arrive at Campbell Bay for relief operations. The two helicopters carried onboard the ship will be pressed into service for evacuation of personnel, distribution of food, provisions and relief material to the affected areas.
INS Sharabh (LST) with 85 tons of provisions and stores has arrived at Kamorta for disembarkation of the relief material.
INS Sandhayak (Survey Ship) has commenced disembarking relief materials (which were loaded at Chennai) at Campbell Bay and would thereafter resume hydrographic survey of the approaches to Campbell Bay Jetty.
INS Nirdeshak (Hospital Ship) is embarking about 50 tons of relief material at Chennai and will thereafter sail for Port Blair.
INS Darshak (Survey Ship), is on passage to Kamorta along with IAF personnel for Tarasa / Katchall, TV Crew, doctors, relief material and medicines. The ship will also carry out hydrographic survey of approaches and all jetties in Nancowry group of islands.
IN Ships Trinkat and LCU 38 continue to operate in Nancowry for relief operations.
Hut Bay Island
IN Ships Kumbhir and LCU 39 carried out beach survey in Hut Bay.
IN Ships LCU 35 and LCU 36 have arrived at Hut Bay with relief material and vehicles.
INS Rajput continues to operate off Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar Islands to coordinate the relief operations. The ship’s Helo had winched down MARCOS and a local guide to establish contact with Shompen Tribe. The team found live settlement with food, pigs etc,. However, contact with them could not be established as the tribal ran away into the forest.
East Coast (Op MADAD)
Tamil Nadu Coast
Diving Operations
The diving operations by IN Diving Team to clear obstructions in Chennai port are continuing.
Nagapattinam
INS Ranjit continued to operate relief camps at Sri Perumal Temple and Nambiar Nagar in Nagapattinam.
Kanyakumari District
The relief work in coastal villages of Kanyakumari district is continuing and is being coordinated by the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Tuticorin.
IN XFAC T-84 continues to be deployed at Tuticorin to provide relief assistance like surveillance of the area for dead bodies and transportation of urgent relief material to the affected coastal areas.
Assistance to Sri Lanka (Op RAINBOW)
Galle
INS Sarvekshak (Survey ship) is alongside the New Jetty at Galle and continues to coordinate activities of the medical and relief camps ashore.
The Army composite team (81 personnel) from INS Sarvekshak has been re-deployed at SLNS Dakshin at Galle to undertake relief work.
The following relief assistance was provided by the Indian contingent :-
* Relief material distributed at Magalle and Makuluwa relief camps.
* Eight wells were cleared and chlorinated.
* Constructed septic tanks at Uruvatha and Televatha.
* Electricity supply and telephone lines were restored at Hikkasduwa railway station.
* Restoration of civil supplies.
INS Sutlej (Survey Ship) entered Colombo AM 06 Jan 05. The ship is scheduled to undertake hydrographic survey of the inner harbour and two approach channels, from 07 Jan 05.
Medical Camps Medical camps conducted by Naval personnel are operating at the following locations:-
* One medical team, which was airlifted from Kochi on 26 Dec 04, continues to be employed with Sri Lankan Army Military Engineering Regiment in Embilipitiya near Hambantota and are attending to casualties.
* Medical camps were set at the following locations in Galle by IN ships Sarvekshak and Sutlej:-
* Thalpe Makolagot Temple.
* Meegalagora.
* Sri Dharnaramaye.
* Wijesiri Mangalaramaye
* Unawaduna
* Two Medical Officers and 06 Medical Assistants from INS Kirch are deployed at Kinniya in Trincomalee district to run a medical camp.
* Six Medical Officers and 12 Medical Assistants from INS Aditya are deployed in Batticaloa area.
Aircraft Detachment
One Dornier ex-Kochi ferried 600 kgs of medicines and medical stores to Colombo on 06 Jan 05, urgently needed by the 4021 Field Ambulance Unit.
Islander aircraft operating at Colombo, undertook two sorties for recce missions from Ratmalana to Koggala and transfer of 260 kg spares for SLAF Helicopter Unit at Trincomalee. One CNN journalist was embarked.
Trincomalee
IN Ships Jamuna and Kirch are at Trincomalee. A relief camp comprising 05 officers, 22 senior sailors and 35 junior sailors, equipped with portable equipment and engineering support tools continues to provide relief assistance to the needy people in the area. The Indian contingent undertook the following relief activities:-
12 tons of relief material handed over to SL Government agency.
Cleaning and chlorination of six wells.
Debris clearance.
Medical camp set up at Periyankulam treated over 200 patients.
Reconstruction work at SL Naval Base Vijayabha.
INS Ghorpad (Landing Ship Tank) arrived at Trincomalee on 07 Jan 05 with 120 tons of relief material embarked.
CGS Samar has returned to Kochi for loading of further relief supplies for Sri Lanka.
Relief Assistance to Maldives (Op CASTOR)
CGS Sagar continues to be deployed in Maldives to support relief operations at various islands.
Indonesia (Op GAMBHIR)
IN Ships Nirupak (Hospital Ship) with Chetak helecopter and Khukri (Corvette) arrived off Meulaboh (Indonesia) on 05 Jan 05. The Commanding Officers of the two ships along with our Defence Attaché held a Coordination Meeting with the local Indonesian Naval authorities on 06 Jan 05.
The disembarkation of relief stores has commenced using one large boat ex-Indonesian Naval Ship Kambani and three local boats. About 10 tons of relief stores have been handed over to Indonesian Naval authorities at Meulaboh. The process of stores disembarkation was slow due to inclement weather.
A medical camp with 4-bed medical facilities has been established at a mosque in Meulaboh town for minor medical treatments. Approx 200 patients were treated on 06 Jan 05. One Surgery case was treated onboard Nirupak, the hospital ship.
Helicopter carried onboard Nirupak was used to disembark medical staff and stores.
SUMMARY
Almost two weeks after the disaster, extra-regional countries have started to make their presence felt in the affected areas specially in Sri Lanka and Aceh province of Indonesia. Indian Navy had deployed its forces for five simultaneous operations – two within India and three in foreign countries, namely Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at a short notice. The ‘first-aid’ assistance carried by the naval ships, aircraft and the personnel has provided the much needed timely relief to the affected people. The naval effort is being continued to augment the relief and rehabilitation process initiated by the State Authorities and various other non-governmental organisations in the affected areas.