Indian Navy on High Alert for Cyclone 'FANI' Relief Effort

Indian Navy on High Alert for Cyclone 'FANI' Relief Effort

As the cyclonic storm 'FANI' intensifies into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over South East and adjoining South West Bay of Bengal and lies about 770 kms East-South-East of Chennai at 1730 hrs on 29 April 2019, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc, in sufficient quantities. Naval aircraft are also standing by at Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded, if required.

ENC is monitoring developments in the Bay of Bengal closely and Flag Officer Tamilnadu & Puducherry Naval Area and Naval Officers-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) and (Odisha) are in constant communication with the respective State Administration to augment rescue and relief operations as needed.