India deploys naval ships to render cyclone assistance

The Indian Navy has deployed four ships and two aircraft to provide assistance in the search for six fishing boats with crew and one marine engineering vessel reported to be missing at sea near Vizhinjam.

The vessels went missing under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi that has developed in the Indian Ocean off Kerala, the navy said in a statement.

Based on the request received from the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, the Southern Naval Command has deployed naval ships Shardul, Nireekshak, Kabra and Kalpeni and two aircraft based at Kochi.

The ships and aircraft will carry out search and rescue (SAR) operations in the area and provide any assistance required by the civil administration until the cyclone crosses coast.

The Southern Naval Command is also gearing up for any Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) that may be required due to the effects of the storm in the southern part of Kerala.