Navy ends 'Operation Madad'
25 Aug 2018
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The Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy terminated #Operation Madad on Friday on the successful completion of rescue and relief operations.
This was the largest ever humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operation undertaken by the Southern Command, lasting close to 16 days, during which 16,843 people were rescued. Of these, 15,670 were by boat, while 1,173 had to be airlifted. The efforts reached a peak with 92 rescue teams with Gemini boats deployed in a day. Aircraft were also deployed to undertake non-stop air sorties dawn to dusk.
The Western and Eastern Naval Commands also pitched in with helicopters, divers, Gemini boats and other HADR material, sent both by IAF aircraft as well as naval ships.
Rescue camps were organised at the Naval Armament Depot, Aluva, and the T2 Hangar, Naval Base for the displaced people.
The Navy Wives Welfare Association undertook distribution of food, clothes, other essentials to the needy in the relief camps.
Medical camps were set up at Wayanad and Aluva where access by road was not possible. INHS Sanjivani provided post-rescue hospital care for those requiring mediacl treatment, including two deliveries.
Several tonnes of food, water and other relief material was distributed by boats and by air to those who could not be rescued immediately. A community kitchen, feeding all three meals and tea twice a day to 10,000 people, which was set up from the launch of Operation Madad, was also closed on Friday.
The navy also assisted with emergency repairs of critical public facilities and infrastructure at Amritha Hospital, Pazhassi dam and Kerala Water Authority's water pumps to restore water supply, and some of the Kerala State Electricity Board's transformers to restore power supply.
As the flooding at Cochin International Airport head had led to suspension of commercial airline operations, the Southern Command liaised with Director General of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India for the naval air station INS Garuda at Kochi to be used for limited flying ops, with the School for Naval Airmen functioning as a makeshift terminal. Commercial flights from INS Garuda, have been operating till date from 20 August 2018
Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, who led Operation 'Madad,' comlplemented the young officers and sailors who formed the mainstay of the rescue teams.
Adm Chawla also acknowledged the timely help and support by other naval Commands. He said that this operation had showcased the capability of the Indian Navy and tyhe Southern Command to rise to the occasion, in taking on an unprecedented disaster of this magnitude.
