Cyclone Yaas: Navy, Coast Guard spearhead relief effort

As part of preparations to mitigate the impact of cyclone Yaas, which is scheduled to hit India’s eastern coast on Wednesday, naval warships loaded with rescue equipment will closely follow the storm to administer immediate relief, transport aircraft have been kept on standby and nearly 1,000 personnel from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have been airlifted to strategic locations for quick deployment.

With indications that the damage from the storm could be severe, the Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) are spearheading efforts to provide relief on the eastern coast, taking no chances after cyclone Tauktae on the western coast resulted in extensive damage and loss to life at offshore oil rigs. The ICG has been at work for the past two days to ensure that more than 254 vessels that were at sea return to shore and have ensured that emergency broadcasts have been made to all boats at sea. More than 30 coast guard disaster relief teams are at standby along the eastern coast.

“ICG remote operating stations are incessantly relaying weather alert messages in vernacular languages on MMB radio for the seafarers and fishermen,” said an official, who did not wish to be identified. “Navtex warnings are being issued regularly and International Safety Net has been activated to alert the vessels transiting through area. Ships at anchorage have also been advised to take shelter and Single Point Mooring operators for necessary safety measures.”