India has rushed three Navy ships with emergency supplies to help Sri lanka in the rescue and relief operations following a devastating flood situation there. The fist Indian Navy ship — INS Kirch — arrived on Saturday morning at the Port of Colombo with the necessary materials.
The Indian Government on Friday afternoon received a request from lanka to provide assistance following major flooding and landslides in various parts of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately directed provision of all necessary assistance. While expressing condolences at the loss of lives and property, the PM said that India stands with her Sri lankan brothers and sisters in their hour of need. “India condoles the loss of lives and property in Sri lanka due to flooding and landslides. We stand with our Sri lankan brothers and sisters in their hour of need. Our ships are being dispatched with relief material. The first ship will reach Colombo tomorrow morning. The second will reach on Sunday. Further assistance on its way,” the PM said.
Following the PM’s directions, INS Kirch was diverted from her deployment and tasked to reach Colombo to provide immediate assistance. The ship, with around 125 personnel on board, arrived at Colombo Port on Saturday morning and offloaded relief supplies, inflatable Gemini boats with diving teams, and a mobile medical team with supplies. High Commissioner of India Taranjit Sandhu handed over the supplies to Ravi Karunanayake, Foreign Minister of lanka, at Colombo Port. The Indian rescue personnel are now being deployed to the disaster affected zone in coordination with Sri lanka Navy and other Sri lankan authorities.
“On directive of @narendramodi last night, INS Kirch arrives in #Srilanka with relief material and rescue and medical teams today morning,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on Twitter.
Additionally, INS Jalashwa and INS Shardul - have sailed out from Visakhapatnam and Kochi, respectively, with Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) stores which includes clothing, inflatable boats, medicines and drinking water. The ships are also carrying medical and diving teams along with helicopters to assist in relief operations at Colombo. INS Jalsahwa is a larger lPD (landing platform/dock) class of ship, which can carry large amounts of relief material and is ideally suited for conduct of HADR missions. Navy sources said other assets too are on stand-by to render assistance as required. The High Commission of India in Colombo is in close touch with Sri lankan authorities to coordinate any additional assistance that may be required.