Armed forces gear up for Cyclone Tauktae

The armed forces have mobilised men and assets in preparation for Cyclone Tauktae. Gujarat being a critical supplier of oxygen from ports to outside state destinations, all efforts are on to ensure the routes are kept open and also opened at the earliest after the cyclone makes landfall, one Army officer said on Monday after a coordination meeting chaired by Gujarat Chief Minister through video conference also attended by Major General V.K. Sharma, General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Division at Ahmedabad.

“The priority is to ensure zero loss of life. The Army is also providing all possible assistance for making standby arrangements including oxygen, power supply and physical safety at all COVID hospitals,” the officer stated.

Also read: Cyclone Tauktae | Five killed as gale force winds, rain pummel Kerala, Karnataka

The Army has mobilised columns and Engineer Task Forces (ETF) to the Western Coast from various parts of the Country. Army is continuously monitoring the situation for likely intensity, maximum impact areas and anticipated relief effort in coordination with Civil Administration and other agencies, another officer said.

“Since the maximum impact is likely to be in Saurashtra including Union Territory of Diu, 10 integrated teams are poised to be employed for Aid to Civil Authority in Diu. Ten teams have been launched to Junagarh area,” the officer stated.

“The Navy has kept 11 diving teams on standby in case of any request from authorities of affected states while 12 flood rescue teams and medical teams have been earmarked for immediate response and deployment,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was informed on Monday at a review meeting held through video conferencing, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. Repair and rescue teams have also been formed to undertake urgent infrastructural repairs post cyclone, if required.

Three Naval ships — Talwar, Tarkash and Tabar — are on standby with aid and relief material for immediate assistance to affected areas, if required. Balance ships on the Western seaboard are also on standby for assistance to fishing boats and small boats stranded due to rough weather while Navy’s maritime reconnaissance aircraft are continuously broadcasting cyclone warnings to fishermen, the statement said.

Also read: Cyclone Tauktae | High waves, rainfall forecast for States on west coast

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed transport aircraft to transport personnel and material of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Ahmedabad. On Sunday, the IAF had deployed two C-130J and one An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad. Another C-130J and two An-32 aircraft carried 121 NDRF personnel and 11.6 tonnes of load from Vijayawada to Ahmedabad while two C-130J aircraft transported 110 personnel and 15 tonnes of cargo for NDRF from Pune to Ahmedabad.

Navy responds to multiple SOS calls

The Navy launched multiple Search and Rescue operations in response to SOS calls from ships at sea. In response to SOS by an Indian vessel adrift in Arabian Sea, a naval helicopter was dispatched early morning on Monday for rescuing the stranded crew of Indian flagged Tug ‘Coromondel Supporter IX’, which was adrift North West of Mangalore, Karnataka.

Also read: Cyclone Tauktae: High-wave warning for Kerala coast

“Rough seas, due to cyclone Tauktae, had resulted in flooding of the vessel’s machinery compartments rendering it without propulsion and power supply, and the crew without any support,” the Navy said. The Navy helicopter was dispatched after failed attempts to rescue by boat and four crew members were winched safely.

In another incident, on receipt of a request for assistance for a Barge ‘P305’ adrift off Heera Oil Fields in Bombay High area with 273 personnel onboard, INS Kochi was swiftly sailed out to assess the situation and render assistance, as required. Another ship INS Talwar is also preparing to sail out.

In a third incident, following SOS message from Barge ‘GAL Constructor’ with 137 people onboard about 8 nautical miles from Mumbai, INS Kolkata was sailed out to render assistance, the Navy added.