KOCHI: Three ships of Indian Navy training squadron – Sujata, Sarathi and Shardul – based out of Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi have been engaged in rescue and relief operations in Mozambique, which is hit by the catastrophic floods unleashed by cyclone Idai . Indian Navy launched Operation Sahayata 2019 following request from Mozambique government at Port Beira in the southern African nation on March 18, a day after the cyclone hit.Till Sunday, the naval crew rescued 192 people from Buzi area, which is cut off from the mainland. In addition, two medical camps have been set up by the Navy at Port Beira and Gaura-Gaurathe island and provided medical assistance to 1,381 people.The ships, part of the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy, were the first responders in the evolving humanitarian crises in the aftermath of the cyclone.They were deployed in the area as part of training curriculum and were immediately diverted to the port city of Beira after the central government responded to the distress call from Mozambique. According to a statement from the ministry of external affairs (MEA), assistance was also being sent to Zimbabwe and Malawi, two other countries hit by the cyclone.“Over the past several days, the three ships have been undertaking HADR (Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief) in coordination with local authorities and the High Commission of India, Maputo. Chetak copters took several sorties to facilitate aerial survey by disaster management officials of Mozambique, for evacuation of people in coordination with local authorities and for dropping food & water packets in cyclone-affected areas,” said the MEA statement.SNC chief and Commander-in-Charge of the rescue operations, Vice Admiral A K Chawla, who was in Durban as part of a pre-scheduled visit, reached Mozambique on Friday and monitored the activities.“Ships of the SNC have done the country proud by being the first and to date the only naval responders to cyclone-ravaged Beira. Indian Navy’s presence has helped stabilising the situation in Mozambique, a close friend of India. The quick response has reinforced our reputation of being a friend in need,” he said.According to a statement from the Navy, the ships’ crew has also been providing fresh water in relief camps, undertaking community service at schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages, etc, clearing of debris and repairing damaged roads.“INS Shardul transferred 10 tonnes of fresh water to a water bowser on jetty using submersible pumps. About two tonnes of drinking water was also provided by INS Sujata to the port authorities for relief camps. The copters helped evacuate three pregnant ladies and drop relief materiel. The ships have set up a round-the-clock community kitchen for local populace at the port,” said the statement.“To make the ships ever-ready for such missions, they are loaded with HADR bricks that contain medicines, dry provisions, ready-to-eat meals, daily essentials and clothing items. These are stocked in order address the distress call at the earliest,” said Commander Sridhar Warrier, defence spokesperson in Kochi.As the crisis is still unfolding, another ship INS Magar, loaded with relief materials will be sent to the country soon.This would cater to approximately 1,000 people for a week. In addition, 500 kg of epidemic-related medicines and 400 tonnes of rice have also been loaded on the ship.Sarathi is a Samarth-class offshore patrol vessel (OOPV) of the Indian Coast Guard. INS Sujata is a Sukanya-class OPV and INS Shardul is a Kumbhir-class tank landing ship of the Indian Navy.Earlier in August, Indian Navy has rescued nearly 17,000 people in Operation Madad in during August floods in Kerala. A total of 1,173 were airlifted while 15,670 were rescued by teams using Gemini boats.

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