With the unprecedented rains and resultant heavy flow of water in various rivers, a number of areas in many states are likely to be impacted by floods. Presently the districts of Ratnagiri, Raigad, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur and Sangli in Maharashtra have been affected. In order to support the state civil administration, the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard launched multiple operations for flood relief, search and rescue.
COAST GUARD TEAMS IN MAHARASHTRA,GOA AND KARANATAKA
Indian Coast Guard has mobilized and dispatched adequate resources for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to the affected districts of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka to work in coordination with the local administration towards Rescue and Relief Operations. Coast Guard units located in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are extending all assistance and support to the concern District Administration in mitigating the effect of incessant rains. A total of 7 Disaster Relief Teams (DRTs)have been working relentlessly in the affected Coastal Districts to rescue people in distress and relocate them to safe locations. Karnataka Coast Guard has pressed 3 DRTs(One each in Unglijoog Island, Kharejoog Island and in bodojoog village) and have rescued and relocated 161 distressed people to safe locations. Maharashtra Coast Guard has pressed 2 DRTs(One each at Mahad and Chiplun) besides pressing a Chetak helicopter into Rescue operations. These teams are working in tandem with the Local Administration and have rescued52 in number people so far and shifted them to safe locations. Coast Guard has extended the facility of its Airbase at Ratnagiri to Indian Navy and Indian Air Force aircraft to operate from this base for Rescue and Relief operations inMaharashtra.Goa Coast Guard has pressed 2 DRTs into service at Ponda besides launching 04 helicopter sorties to drop 200 food packets for the stranded people towards Rescue and Relief Operations.
ARMY LAUNCHES OPERATION VARSHA 21
Indian Army based on request by the civil administration has mobilised flood relief and rescue teams to assist the local administration in flood affected areas. A total of 15 relief and rescue team comprising of troops from Aundh Military Station and Bombay Engineer Group based at Pune have been deployed overnight in affected areas of Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Sangli. These columns will be assisting the civil administration in rescue of local population stranded in submerged areas till normalcy is restored. Lt Gen JS Nain, GOC-In-C Southern Army stated that the Indian Army stands with people in these testing times and all assistance will be provided by the Army in the affected areas. The flood relief columns include engineering efforts and medical teams from Army for providing necessary first aid and medicines to locals being evacuated from flood prone areas.
INDIAN NAVY MOBILISES RESCUE TEAMS FOR FLOOD RELIEF AND EVACUATION
With large parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa reeling under extensive flooding of both urban and rural areas caused by incessant rains and consequent overflowing of riverbanks and dams over the last few days, the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has mobilised considerable resources to provide assistance to State and District administrations of affected areas.
Maharashtra: Based on request received for assistance from civil authorities, a total of seven Naval Flood Rescue Teams (FRT) from Mumbai have been deployed to Ratnagiri and Raigarh districts commencing Thursday evening. One Seaking 42C Helicopter from, Mumbai was deployed for aerial reconnaissance at Poladpur/Raigad during on Friday. One ALH helicopter from Goa was positioned at Ratnagiri for relief/rescue Friday morning, Additional Flood Rescue Teams are being maintained on a high degree of readiness at Mumbai, for immediate deployment.
Karnataka: At Karwar, Indian Naval Emergency Response Team (ERT) comprising 17 Divers, five Geminis, associated equipment such as Life Jackets and Life Buoys was deployed in the morning hours on Friday in response to a request for assistance from the District Collector, Uttara Kannada. District to rescue people stranded near Kadra Dam, Mallapur Kurnipet, Kaiga due to heavy rains / floods. The team was able to successfully evacuate over 100 stranded people at Singudda and Bhaire villages whilst rescue efforts are being continued at Kaiga and Mallapur. The rescued personnel were shifted to safe locations in coordination with the district administration. In an another swift Search and Rescue mission undertaken at Dongri in Gangavalli river belt, eight personnel stranded in two hotels were air lifted by Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), when local attempts for rescue were unsuccessful. The Naval ALH was launched from Goa and successfully completed rescue of the stranded people in over two hours.
Goa: In addition to providing aerial support to Karwar rescue efforts, A sortie was made to Ganjem near Ponda to check and verify the receding water levels. Another ALH has been deployed at flood affected Ratnagiri to undertake Search And Rescue missions.
IAF FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS: RATNAGIRI
On Thursday, at around 1:30 pm, the IAF received a message for requirement of flood relief operations in Chiplun and Khed towns of Ratnagiri district Maharashtra. When the weather permitted, a Mi-17 IV helicopter got airborne from Mumbai for Ratnagiri at 3:40 pm and landed at Ratnagiri at 5 pm. Bad weather did not permit any further operations in the evening. Operations have resumed today with the helicopter deployed at Ratnagiri along with another one flown in from Mumbai. An NDRF team of 10 personnel with approximately one-ton load has also been flown in by IAF to Ratnagiri. On Friday, a helicopter from Ratnagiri got airborne at 11:35 am, carried out reconnaissance and rescued two people before landing back at Ratnagiri. The IAF is also positioning two Mi-17V5s and two Mi-17s for flood relief operations. Another helicopter is standing by at Pune for any emergent requirement.
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