New Delhi, January 2
The Army today moved heavy ferries to Thiruvananthapuram for deployment in Allepy at two locations even as round-the-clock sorties were being made by the Indian Air Force to provide relief to the tsunami-affected people.
India has also launched “Operation Ghambir” to augment relief and rescue efforts in the worst affected Indonesia.
Two Indian ships are expected to reach Indonesia by January 4, a defence spokesperson said. One of the ships had been converted into a make-shift hospital, which would provide medical assistance to people in that country.
This is the third overseas relief operation launched by India following the December 26 tsunami disaster.
The spokesman said “Operation Rainbow” was going on in Sri Lanka where India had dispatched five MI-8 and one MI-17 helicopters. Besides, an AN-32 and Avro aircraft of the India Air Force had done a number of sorties to the nation carrying relief material.
One field hospital with various medical specialist of the Army has also been airlifted.
“Operation Castor” was going on in the Maldives where India had dispatched two Avros besides conducting several sorties.
Nearly 17,500 personnel of the three services had been deployed for relief and rehabilitation of Tsunami disaster victims in the affected areas.
The IAF had airlifted more than 5,000 tonnes of relief material comprising food packets, water, blankets, tents, clothing items, gensets and medicines in the past one week.
Sources said 32 ships, 39 helicopters and 31 airplanes had been deployed for relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami affected four states and a union territory.
Nearly 8,000 troops had been deputed for relief and rehabilitation operation in Andaman and Nicobar.
The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), which is coordinating relief efforts, is also running “Operation Sea Wave” in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
