In an effort to test its preparedness for rescue and relief operations during natural calamities like tsunami and cyclones, the Indian Navy conducted a large- scale exercise around lakshadweep Islands involving 20 warships, aircraft and helicopters. The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise involving ships from the Western and Eastern Fleets and various aircraft was carried out on Monday, Navy officials said here on Tuesday.
The exercise, which spanned an area of approximately 8,000 square kms in the Indian Ocean — simulated a major cyclone striking the islands, disrupting essential services and causing widespread destruction of property, loss of life and dislocation of personnel.The ships in the drill were grouped into four forces, each having a humanitarian assistance and security component. The exercise was designed to validate the navy's capability for providing immediate succour and relief to the affected people, they said.
The exercise involved the Navy personnel setting up medical camps and making provisions for food, shelter from the elements, restoration of basic facilities and limited restoration work till the situation stabilised. In the wake of the "fresh water crisis" at Male in December last year, Indian Navy had deployed two warships which supplied more than 2,000 tones of fresh water to the city of Male over a period of 10 days. The Navy was also at the forefront of relief operations in the wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.