Indian Navy assists in rescue operations in flood-hit Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa
With large parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa reeling under extensive flooding, the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has mobilized its resources to provide assistance to state and district administrations of the affected areas.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 25 July 2021 7:02 AM GMT
Visakhapatnam: With large parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa reeling under extensive flooding, the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has mobilized its resources to provide assistance to state and district administrations of the affected areas.
The floods were caused by incessant rains and the consequent overflowing of riverbanks and dams over the last few days.
Based on requests received for assistance from civil authorities, seven Naval Flood Rescue Teams (FRT) from Mumbai were deployed to Ratnagiri and Raigarh districts of Maharashtra on 22 July. One Seaking 42C helicopter from Mumbai was deployed for aerial reconnaissance at Poladpur/Raigad on 23 July and one ALH helo from Goa was positioned at Ratnagiri for relief/rescue, the Navy said. Additional flood rescue teams are being maintained on a high degree of readiness at Mumbai for immediate deployment, it added.
Meanwhile, in response to a request for assistance from the district collector of Uttara Kannada, Indian Naval Emergency Response Team (ERT) comprising 17 divers, five Geminis, and associated equipment such as life jackets and lifebuoys was deployed on 23 July at Karwar to rescue people stranded near Kadra Dam, Mallapur Kurnipet, and Kaiga.
The team successfully evacuated over 100 stranded people at Singudda and Bhaire villages even as rescue efforts continue at Kaiga and Mallapur. The rescued people were shifted to safe locations in coordination with the district administration, the Navy said.
Also, eight people stranded in two hotels were airlifted by Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) at Dongri in Gangavalli river belt after local rescue attempts were unsuccessful.
In Goa, the Navy made a sortie to Ganjem near Ponda to check and verify the receding water levels while another ALH was deployed at flood-affected Ratnagiri to undertake search and rescue missions.
