SAR NEWS

TSUNAMI
RELIEF
OPERATIONS

TSUNAMI DISASTER HITS INDIA, SOUTH AND SE ASIA - 26 DEC 2004

INDIAN COAST GUARD TSUNAMI DISTRESS RELIEF OPERATIONS IN
INDIA AND OVERSEAS

1. The Indian Coast Guard(ICG) had launched massive distress relief operations off the Eastern and South Western coasts of India and Andaman & Nicobar group of Islands w.e.f. from 26 Dec 2004. The Ships and Aircraft carried out extensive coastal surveillance effort over the effected areas. ICG carried out relief operations in Sri Lanka and Maldives also. ICG ships and aircraft successfully evacuated thousands of personnel from the effected areas, and rescued dozens from the sea. A total of 23 ICG ships were deployed for the relief operations, 230 sorties were flown by aircraft and helicopters, 365 tons of relief material were distributed and medical relief was provided to over 2850 personnel.

2. Overseas Operations:

ICG Dornier 753 established communications with ATC Male Airfield on the night of 26 Dec 2004 and operated from Male Airport from 27 Dec 2004 to 06 Jan 2005.
ICG Dornier 751 carried out relief operations at Maldives from 07 Jan to 17 Jan 2005.
ICGS Sagar provided relief assistance to Maldives group of islands from 01 Jan to 11 Jan 2005 and returned Mumbai on 14 Jan 2005.
ICGS Vigraha carried out relief operations at Maldives from 10 Jan to 21 Jan 2005 and returned Kochi 23 Jan 2005.
ICGS Samar carried out relief operations at Colombo from 01 Jan to 05 Jan 2005. The ship embarked on its second relief mission to Colombo wef 18 Jan 2005. On 20 Jan 2005 the ship de-inducted the Indian Army Medical Relief Team of 402 Field Ambulance from Colombo and returned Kochi 21 Jan 2005.

3. ICGS Sagar had earlier confirmed no damages/casualities in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of Islands.

* ICGS Vivek provided logistics support in making the Indira Point Light House(Southern most tip of India in Great Nicobar Island) functional on 20 Jan 2005.

5. ICG Personnel have contributed following:-

All uniformed personnel have donated one day's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
All CGHQ officers have donated one week's rations for the Andaman Region.
Master Vedant Vashisht, son of a Coast Guard Officer, has donated his entire birth day saving(Rs.1,000/-) to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for Tsunami victims.
The Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association has contributed relief material for Tsunami victims of A&N Islands, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Relief Material Collected by Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association, New Delhi
Prior Despatch to Effected Areas.

6. The ICG had setup 14 Relief Camps in Campbell Bay(Great Nicobar Island), housing 4678 personnel. Commandant Arun Singh of Indian Coast Guard was nominated as overall co-ordinator for this relief operation. The camps have now been handed over to the Indian Army on 18 Jan 2005.

7. On 02 Jan 2005 ICGS Vivek rescued four Indonesians off Campbell Bay from an Indonesian boat, which was adrift and damaged due to Tsunami. The victims were rendered medical aid, provided food and clothing and brought to Port Blair for further rehabilitation and relief.

Four Indonesian Surviors on Board ICGS Vivek

OBITUARY

Late Shri Gunasekaran, who was serving as a civilian employee at Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters, Chennai was a victim of Tsunami which hit the Tamil Nadu coast on 26 Dec 2004. He had rendered yeoman service to the Indian Coast Guard wef Dec 1988. He will be fondly remembered by his colleagues and the Indian Coast Guard fraternity.