8 Sep :In view of the flood situation in Bihar, Indian navy was requested to deploy relief teams with gemini craft and OBM to Purnia, Bihar am 30 Aug 08.
Accordingly, relief teams from each of the three naval commands at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi were activated at short notice and airlifted to the affected areas by pm on the same day. a total of 125 personnel and 45 gemini boats with OBMs and other diving and support equipment arrived Purnia on 30/31 Aug 08 and were deployed on the very next day.
As most of the affected villages could only be accessed by boats, the teams were augmented by additional 74 personnel (including officers, divers, technicians and medical assistants) and 21 gemini boats with OBMs, diving equipment, communication sets and other support equipment by air on 03 Sep 08.
After nine days of operations in the flood ravaged Bihar, the combined Indian navy relief teams have worked tirelessly despite various constraints and rescued 9096 personnel. Though the relief operations are still ongoing, with flood waters now receding, the victims are increasingly insisting on staying put to protect their property and carry out essential repairs. The need of the hour is thus early provision of rations and other relief material for rehabilitation of the displaced population.
It would be recalled that the Indian navy had pledged to donate two days rations in respect of serving naval personnel towards the alleviation of hardships of those affected by the unprecedented calamity of floods in Bihar. towards this, nine trucks containing 93 metric tonnes of rations (approximate cost of Rs 37.5 lakhs) were dispatched in two consignments from Visakhapatnam to district magistrate, Begusarai, Bihar on 04 & 05 Sep 08. These rations have been made into smaller packs of 10.4 kg each for ease of distribution by Indian navy and state administration to the affected population. all nine trucks have arrived Begusarai at 1100 h on 08 Sep 08 and four trucks are being sent to Saharsa and five trucks to Madhepura. The trucks are expected to arrive at these locations pm 08 Sep 08 for distribution.
With this, the Indian navy has demonstrated not only its concern for the flood ravaged in Bihar but also ensured continued and unhindered operations and arrival and distribution of the food aid pledged to the affected victims on site, when it was most needed.