Indian Navy conducted HADR Exercise in Lakshadweep Islands

Indian Navy had conducted Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) exercise in Lakshadweep Islands (Kavaratti, Aggatti, Kalpeni and Androth).
HADR was Indian Navy’s large scale exercise to test its readiness for handling a tsunami like disasters in order to provide immediate succour and relief to the affected people.
It involved participation of more than 20 Indian Naval Ships from the Western and Eastern Fleet along with various aircraft of the Indian Navy.
Some facts about HADR exercise

• The exercise spanned an area of approximately 8,000 square miles in the Indian Ocean.
• HADR exercise 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.
• It 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.

Indian Navy’s Disaster relief work

• December 2014-Indian navy played key role resolving Maldives fresh water crisis by deploying its ships.
• 2004- After the disastrous Indian Ocean Tsunami, Indian navy was also at the forefront of relief operations.
• Indian navy took part in evacuation operations from Lebanon in 2006 and Libya in 2011
• 2007- provided assistance in Bangladesh during Cyclone Sidr and also in 2008 during Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2015