INTEGRATED HEADQUARTERS OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (NAVY)
RELIEF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY INDIAN NAVY
On completion of two weeks since the Tsunami disaster had struck, the Indian Navy continues its deployment for providing the assistance to the rehabilitation efforts. As of today, a total of 23 ships, 15 helicopters and 5 fixed wing aircraft 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 730 Tons of relief supplies (like Tents, Gensets, Desalination Plants, Blankets, etc), including 446 Tons of provisions and 15 Tons of medicines have been delivered by the naval ships and aircraft to the affected areas.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Op SEA WAVES)
INS Kumbhir is providing relief assistance at Hut Bay. A coordination meeting of Medical officers, Primary Healthcare staff, NGOs and paramedic team was conducted. The whole area was divided into zones and each zone was handed over to respective medical team for further preventive measures.
IN Ships Sandhayak, Trinkat and Sharabh are operating off Nancowry group. INS Sharabh is disembarking relief material (embarked at Chennai), despite the difficulties that were being faced in disembarkation as the jetty was getting submerged during high water.
Survey of seven villages in the vicinity of Nancowry harbour carried out by ships’ boats. Extensive damage to huts and dwellings close to waterline has been observed.
IN Ships Brahmaputra and Darshak are off Campbell Bay. About five tons of relief material was transferred to the Base Camp at Campbell Bay.
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 One Medical Camp continues to operate at Thopputhurai and op logistics to the camp is being provided by Naval Detachments located at Nagapattinam and Thopputhurai.
Kanyakumari The relief and rehabilitation support and medical aid continues to be provided at Kolachel and Kottilpadu villages of Kanyakumari district.
Assistance to Sri Lanka (Op RAINBOW)
Galle
INS Sarvekshak (Survey ship) is alongside the New Jetty at Galle and coordinating the activities of the medical and relief camps ashore. The Medical teams treated over 150 patients. The ship’s teams rectified two fishing boat engines and three radio sets of the fisheries department and carried out overhaul of the electrical motors for restoration of water supply to the harbour.
The Army composite team (81 personnel) from INS Sarvekshak has been re-deployed at SLNS Dakshin at Galle to undertake relief work.
Colombo
INS Sutlej (Survey Ship) is deployed at Colombo since 06 Jan 05 for Survey of Colombo harbour. The expected date of completion of 10 Jan 05. The following tasks completed in Colombo harbour:-
- 90% sounding (depth measurement) operations.
- 100% coastline.
- 80% survey of the area with side scan sonar.
Trincomalee
IN Ships Jamuna, Ghorpad and Kirch are at Trincomalee. Approximately 120 Tons of relief supplies from INS Ghorpad handed over to SL authorities. Ship’s helicopter carried relief material to various hinterland areas. IN Ships Kirch and Ghorpad will be returning on completion of disembarkation of relief stores.
A technical team comprising 05 officers, 22 senior sailors and 35 junior sailors (Naval Disaster Relief Team), equipped with portable equipment and engineering support tools continues to provide relief assistance to the needy people in the area and helping to restore normalcy. The following reconstruction activities were undertaken in the last 24 hours:-
- Five wells were cleaned and chlorinated.
- Debris consisting of five walls cleared from five houses.
- Basic electrification for 9 houses, rewinding of transformers etc.
The relief camp, established at the deserted Govt Hospital, Kuchuveli undertook the following tasks:-
- Clearing of 20.000 sq feet area in Kasim Nagar village for putting up of tents.
- Two wells cleared and chlorinated.
- Two portable water pumps and one generator made operational.
- Alternator of 10 KVA generator insulated and despatched to SL Naval dockyard for rewinding.
- Treated approx 820 patients.
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. Mobile sections are working in different relief camps in the area in coordination with local, civil and military authorities.
- The Medical Team from INS Sarvekshak operated from Hotel Closenberg at Galle and treated over 175 patients on 08 Jan 05.
- Two Medical Officers and 06 Medical Assistants from INS Kirch continue to be 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. On an average 800 patients are being treated daily. The team visited Kadaikalar Village on 08 Jan 05 being the first medical team to visit the area, which is on a small island with bridges on either side washed away. There, a highly technical surgical procedure of `Contractual Release’ was carried out on an old lady whose mobility had become restricted due to burns.
- Team of four medical officers (including Gynec & Surg Spl) and medical assistants deployed at Ampara are providing medical assistance in co-ordination with local, civil and military authorities. The team has visited `Kalmuni Area’, about 10 kms north of Ampara, where no medical relief had reached todate.
- Extensive efforts are in progress to operationalise the Kuchiveli Government Hospital. Large sections have been made functional. A separate ward for serious cases on similar lines of ICU being setup. Group therapy sessions by IN psychiatrist are being conducted at Govt Hospital Trincomalee. In addition, a mobile medical unit has also been setup. Medicines urgently required at Trincomalee were supplied from Visakhapatnam using the Islander aircraft.
Aircraft Detachment One Dornier and one Islander aircraft detachment ex- Kochi continues to operate from Colombo.
Relief Assistance to Maldives (Op CASTOR)
CGS Sagar and one Dornier aircraft 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) are deployed off Meulaboh (Indonesia) since AM 05 Jan 05. The disembarkation of relief stores (approx 14.5 tons) has been completed and handed over to Indonesian authorities 09 Jan 05. Medical stores from INS Nirupak is being disembarked as required for the medical camp.
The Commanding Officers held a meeting with the, Deputy Indonesian Task Force Commander on 09 Jan 05 to coordinate the setting up of the medical camp.
Medical Relief One medical camp is being operated in the premises provided by the Indonesian Army and all the medical relief stores ex-Khukri have been disembarked to the camp ashore. A minor OT with field anaesthesia facility was also set up ashore.
SUMMARY
After fifteen days of deployment, the ships, aircraft and personnel of Indian Navy are continuing various relief tasks in support of the Government’s rehabilitation programme. To enlarge the scope and size of the relief work to the affected people in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, naval ships have carried about 200 Army personnel of different specialisations. These teams while providing the relief are supported administratively by our own ships, without burdening the host countries. The continued presence of the naval ships, aircraft, boats and personnel of the Navy in the vicinity of the far flung islands of A&N is also serving the purpose of communicating support and reassurance to the affected people.