As death toll mounts in Sri Lanka due to incessant floods and landslides, Indian Navy has stepped in to assist its southern neighbour and dispatched several ships to Colombo with personnel and relief material.
“INS Kirch operating in South Bay of Bengal has been diverted to Colombo in Sri Lanka to render immediate assistance in flood relief operations,” Navy Spokesperson said on Saturday morning.
The corvette has entered Colombo and personnel have begun distributing relief material in the affected areas. Two more ships have been sent with relief material.
A man pulls a main powerline during a rescue mission at the site of a landslide in Bellana village in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
According to Sri Lankan officials, at least 100 people have been killed and over 110 missing due to the monsoon rains.
INS Jalashwa has set sail from Visakhapatnam with Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) stores which include victulaling, clothing, medicines and water and is likely to reach by noon on Sunday, the Navy official stated.
INS Jalashwa is also carrying medical and diving teams along with Gemini crafts and helicopters to assist in relief operations. A third ship, INS Shardul set sail from Kochi with relief material and diving teams and has reached Colombo.
