Navy Relief Flights and Coast Guard Rescue in Cyclone-Hit Odisha

Rescue and relief operations are underway across parts of Odisha after Cyclone Arnab and the flooding that followed. The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard are both working in the affected areas.

The Navy has been running helicopter relief flights in Ganjam district. Sea King and Advanced Light Helicopters were used to take about 1,800 kilograms of relief material to the flood-hit Sara Bhimpur village. The supplies included 1,400 kilograms of food and 400 litres of fresh water.

Road disruption and widespread waterlogging have made ground access very hard in many places. Helicopter operations have therefore become essential for getting aid to people who would otherwise be left without help.

Separately, the Coast Guard has carried out an air rescue operation in the same district. On October 29, the Coast Guard saved six people who were trapped at a flooded primary health centre. Among them were two women, two children and an elderly person.

After receiving information about the emergency from the administration, an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk-III) from the Coast Guard's air station in Bhubaneswar was quickly deployed. Coast Guard personnel were sent with the helicopter for the rescue.

Despite bad weather and difficult conditions, the helicopter crew located the flooded health centre where people were stranded. All six people were then safely evacuated by helicopter.