Indian Navy Offers a Helping Hand in Cyclone Nilam Aftermath

In the aftermath of Cyclone Nilam (IMD designation: BOB 02) making landfall near Mahabalipuram on October 31, several coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and TamilNadu are facing widespread destruction causing disruption of life in the areas.

Naval Relief & Rescue Operations

As the rescue and relief operations continue in Andhra Pradesh, 28 relief teams comprising nearly 60 divers of the Eastern Naval Command are engaged actively in the affected districts of Visakhapatnam and West Godavari. The rescue operations in Nidadavole, Narsingapatnam and Padmanabham have been completed and the teams re-deployed in other affected areas. Over 20 personnel from Chodavaram, 60 from Padmanabham and 25 from Yelamnanchili have been rescued and efforts are on to move all marooned personnel to safety. Nearly 2,100 personnel have been rescued till noon 05 Nov 12, with over 1300 being evacuated from Anakapalli, Munagapaka regions alone.

Further, a Seaking had carried out reconnaissance rescue in the region last evening. Two Chetak helicopters and a Seaking of the Eastern Naval Command were deployed again on 05 Nov 12 for dropping of food packets in the villages of P.Anandapuram, Yadagiriplaem, Kumarapuram, Purushottamapuram and Ganaparthi of Munagapaka Mandal and in Kummarapalli and Dimili of Rambilli Mandal. In addition, Control Posts at Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command have been working constantly in tandem with the State Administration in augmenting the ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts.

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Naval Today Staff, November 6, 2012; Image: Indian Navy