India Launches Tri- Service HADR Operations Into Chennai Floods

New Delhi,  December 02, 2015

ARMY COLUMNS CONTINUE TO CONDUCT RELENTLESS RESCUE OPERATIONS IN FLOODS AFFECTED CRITICAL AREAS OF CHENNAI

Indian Army’s four columns, to include troops from the Garrison Infantry Battalion located at Chennai along with one column rushed in by road from Bangalore, continue to carry out extensive Flood Rescue and Relief operations at Tambaram, Mudichur, Manipakam, Guduvancheri and Urapakkam areas. The Army is addressing the most critical areas where flood water levels have reached 10-12 feet. Over 30 Army trucks have also been employed for ferrying stranded people in areas where the water level is less than 6 feet.

The Army column located at Guduvancheri and Urupakkam are carrying out rescue operations and have rescued over 600 stranded people in Waigai Nagar and Priya Nagar. The Army column at Manipakkam have evacuated over 800 people including stranded students from educational institutes in and around Kutheri to safer places. Another Army column operating at Mudichur has rescued over 750 people till 1600h.

The rescue column from Bangalore was deployed by 1100h for rescue operations at MIOT hospital, Guindy and successfully evacuated over 200 people including patients.

While flood rescue operations are in full swing, three more Army columns from Bangalore are being brought in with rescue and relief equipment to augment rescue efforts.

Additional two columns have been kept on standby in Secunderabad for any contingencies. With civil communication and Mobile Towers out of Communication in critical areas of Chennai, the Army is resorting to radio communication for coordinating rescue operations to reach affected people and rescue them.

INDIAN AIR FORCE CONDUCT RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN RAIN RAVAGED AREAS

Following incessant rains in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh and in large parts of Tamil Nadu, requests from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Governments for positioning of helicopters at Tirupati and Tambram for relief and rescue were received by Indian Air Force. The IAF promptly responded to this call for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and has positioned two Mi 17 helicopters of Southern Air Command at Tirupati.

Two Mi 17 helicopters are at Bangalore and Thanjavur for onward move to Chennai for aerial dropping of food packets, water and medicines and for evacuating stranded people to safe areas.  As soon as the weather is fit for helicopter operations, these helicopters will move to Chennai, from where they will be assisting the State Disaster Management authorities in their efforts to provide succour to the stranded population. 

One C-17 had taken off from Chandigarh via Bhubaneswar and landed at Tirupati with three teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF).  One C-17 took off from Palam with three teams of NDRF and one C-130 J has got airborne to Tambaram for reconnaissance and assessment of the flood affected areas.

Indian Navy's Rescue Operation For Chennai Flood Relief 

(A)   Three flood relief team deputed as follows:-

        (i)   One team comprising of 20 sailors (five divers and 15 good swimmers) with  Gemini and associated gears deployed 01 Dec at 2145hours to Gandhi Nagar near Adyar bridge. Team returned 02 Dec 0200 hours after rescuing 15 stranded personnel.

     (ii)   Team two consisting of one officer 16 sailors (Four divers and 12 good swimmers) two Geminis and 250 food packets deputed 02 Dec at 0725 hours to RDO Office, Tambaram upon State Governments request. Team directed to report to Secretary Tourism designated as Monitoring Officer.

     (iii)   Team three from Rajali consisiting of two officers 50 sailors and 200 packets deployed 02 Dec at 0845 hours to RDO Tambaram office for central flood relief Operation thereafter.

      (iv)    Additional boats being deployed to RDO office Tambaram for use by Rajali flood relief team

 (B)  Rajali Parundu and ships put on standby for Helo/RPA sorties and deployment of boats/portable De-flooding pumps.

 (C)   INS Chetlat on Palkbay patrol responded to distress call to rescue missing fishing vessel (Reg No. 10-MM-173) on 01 Dec at 1930 hours. Fishing vessel detected at 2210 hours with total loss of propulsion and power generation. Fishing vessel towed to Rameswaram and arrived jetty on 02 Dec at 0145 hours.

 (D)   NCC Puducherry put on standby for providing boats for flood relief. Preliminary reports from Puducherry NCC indicate no flood situation, however being monitored.

 (E)   Shelter for housing 100 needy personnel kept ready at INS Adyar.

 (F)   Medical team kept standby for deputing at short notice.

 (G) Navy Helpline 044-25394240 promulgated and manned 24x7.

(H) INS Airavat ex Vishakhapatnam being rushed to Chennai with Relief material.

(j)  UAVs being launched for assessment of situation in area