New Delhi (NVI): Indian Armed forces have kept their men and machines on standby with aid and relief material for immediate assistance to the states which are likely to be affected by ‘Cyclone Tauktae’.
Indian Navy’s three ships Talwar, Tarkash and Tabar are on standby with aid and relief material for immediate assistance to affected areas, if required, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed in a review preparedness meeting for ‘Cyclone Tauktae’ today.
According to IMD, “the cyclonic storm “Tauktae” has further intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) and about 165 km west-northwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra), and 130 south-southeast of Diu.”
“It is likely to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva, east of Diu tonight, IMD said.”
In view of that, 11 Indian Navy Diving Teams have been kept on standby in case of any request from authorities of affected states.
Twelve flood rescue teams and medical teams have been earmarked for immediate response and deployment. Repair and rescue teams have also been formed to undertake urgent infrastructural repairs post cyclone, if required.
Balance ships on the Western seaboard are also on standby for assistance to fishing boats/small boats stranded due to rough weather.
Navy’s Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft on surveillance are continuously broadcasting cyclone warnings to fishermen.
In a meeting, Defence Minister was also informed that the assets of the Indian Navy were pressed into service to rescue stranded crew of Indian flagged Tug ‘Coromandel Supporter XI’ off Karnataka coast.
Another helicopter from the Naval air station in Goa has been deployed to assist in the search of missing crew members of the Indian flagged Tug Alliance.
He was briefed that the Indian Air Force has deployed its aircraft to transport personnel and tonnes of the load of NDRF to Ahmedabad.
Yesterday, IAF had deployed two C-130J and one An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Another C-130J and two An-32 aircraft carried 121 NDRF personnel and 11.6 tonnes of load from Vijayawada to Ahmedabad for the same purpose. Two C-130J aircraft transported 110 personnel and 15 tonnes of cargo for NDRF from Pune to Ahmedabad.
“Rajnath Singh was also briefed that two Army columns have been mobilised from Jamnagar for Diu along with Engineer Task Force. Two more columns staged forward to Junagadh for immediate response in case need arises. He was informed that the Army is in constant touch with the civil administration,” the statement said.
Defence Minister directed the three Services to provide all possible assistance to the civil administration to deal with the emerging situation.
