INDIAN ARMED FORCES SUPPORT IN HADR OPS: VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM ?YASS?

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ made landfall near Balasore on the Odisha coast on May 26, 2021. Extensive pre-emptive measures undertaken by Armed Forces including Indian Coast Guard on the Eastern Seaboard and Andaman and Nicobar Islands bore fruit in saving lives and property.

• Indian Army’s columns, comprising specialised personnel with associated equipment and inflatable boats are working in close coordination with the Governments of respective states. Cyclone Relief Columns that were kept on standby have rescued large number of affected civilians across the two states.
• During the preparatory phase, IAF airlifted 100 tonnes of HADR equipment and 950 personnel of NDRF from Jamnagar, Patna and Varanasi to Kolkata, and from Arakkonam to Port Blair, utilising five C-130 aircraft. It has kept one C-17, one IL-76, three C-130s, four An-32s and two Dornier transport aircraft on readiness for HADR task. Additionally, 11 Mi-17V5 helicopters, two Chetak helicopters, three Cheetahs, 2 ALH Dhruvs and seven Mi17 helicopters are also on stand/by.
• Indian Navy has moved 10 HADR pallets to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, while five HADR pallets are ready at Port Blair. Eight ships have been embarked with HADR Bricks to provide succour to the impacted people. Four diving and 10 flood relief columns have been pre-positioned at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Chilika. In addition, Naval Aircraft are on operational readiness to undertake search and rescue missions.
• As part of the preventive measures, ICG ensured safe return of 265 fishing boats which were out at sea. All the ashore, afloat and aviation units of ICG are maintaining a high state of readiness for any response measures arising in the aftermath of the storm. Three ICG ships, have been strategically positioned at sea for possible search and rescue missions. ICG Disaster Response Teams are assisting in evacuation of locals at Nayachara and Contai, West Bengal. A close liaison and coordination with state administration, ports, oil rig operators, shipping, fisheries authorities, and other stakeholders is being maintained to ensure safety of boats, vessels, fixed platforms and other assets at sea.