Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • IPL 2022
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • Today’s Pic
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Timeout
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • IPL 2022
  • Sci-Tech
  • Others
    • COVID-19
    • Today’s Pic
No Result
View All Result
OrissaPOST - Odisha Latest news, English Daily -
No Result
View All Result

Indian Navy’s warlike mission in stormy seas

IANS
Updated: May 26th, 2021, 19:19 IST
in Home News, National
0
Photo Credit: CNN

Photo Credit: CNN

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Linkedin

New Delhi: The deadly Cyclone Tauktae had made landfall in Gujarat May 17. This cyclone has been recorded as the fifth strongest ever to emanate from the Arabian Sea in recent years.

State and local authorities were pressed into action to rehabilitate the affected people, and they are continuing with the process tirelessly.

Last Monday onwards, the Indian Navy was called upon to deploy its ships, aircraft and personnel to alleviate the seemingly grim situation.

Over the previous week, it deployed eight of its frontline ships, in addition to numerous aircraft and ashore support staff. These brought with them specialised competencies, making a remarkable difference to the situation as the story unfolded.

While a lot has been reported about the sequence of events that unfolded following the cyclone, ranging from the capsising of Barge P-305 and Tug Varaprada and urgent assistance provided to Barge GAL Constructor, Barge Support Station 3, Great Ship Aditi, and Drill Ship Sagar Bhushan, the actual difficulty surrounding the entire operation, and the professionalism that went into making a success of it, can only be grasped when one hears the Navy’s side of the story.

Vice Admiral M.S. Pawar, the Deputy Chief of Navy, said, “Some phases [of the operation] were undertaken on pitch dark nights with very heavy seas causing violent motion of the ship, requiring precise navigation and deft ship-handling skills to pick up the survivors safely. It was not easy, but our boys did their best. Our divers continue to search for survivors.”

Some phases of the rescue operation witnessed wind speeds of 70-120 km/h, waves as high as 6-8 metres, and very low visibility. All these factors hampered the operation of critical equipment such as radars and helicopters and posed a significant threat to the safety of the ships and the crew onboard.

Anyone who has been on a ship in the high seas will be aware of the rolling and pitching that a ship experiences during storms.

Amid these conditions, the Navy crew carried out all their primary and extraneous duties: Lowering rescue boats, maintaining anti-collision look-outs, tending to survivors, ensuring the optimum performance of ships machinery, and much more.

Adding to this, the prospect of searching for and rescuing survivors amid open seas, at times at night, indicates the tip of the iceberg of challenges.

In one of the operations, a Naval Seaking helicopter rescued 35 crew members from the Barge GAL Constructor in the Arabian Sea.

“Conducting evacuation operations in such weather is fraught with danger. One has to maintain the stability of a rock while hovering in torrential winds. But we were prepared,” said one of the Naval pilots who commandeered these helicopters.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Director General of Naval Operations, said, “Undertaking search and rescue efforts in such cyclonic weather conditions, characterised by high wind speed, tall waves and low visibility, is a challenging task that requires experienced and well-trained crew, platforms that are capable of operating in heavy seas, and surgical coordination between all stakeholders.”

Fortunately, the Naval personnel and platforms ticked all these check boxes.

It is learned that the entire operation was a comprehensive, coordinated effort between the ships, helicopters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and shore authorities.

Across geographies, inputs were relayed, data analysed, orders issued, and decisions taken, which were then seamlessly relayed back to the ships.

“It is like a big net that we are all part of,” said one of the senior officials at the Naval Headquarters.

However, even with cutting-edge technology on their side, compelling challenges were not far away. For instance, locating adrift personnel in the middle of the sea is like looking for a pin in a haystack.

Likewise, the now ubiquitous photograph of a Navy helicopter seen hovering, while its air crew divers winched-up a survivor amid torrential winds was fraught with danger, and required extraordinary nimbleness on part of the pilot, the air crew diver and medical staff on board the helicopter.

On May 22, the Navy deployed INS Makar and INS Tarasa to aid in the recovery of bodies. These vessels are fitted with specialised equipment to detect debris of sunken vessels. The ships were also carrying two specialised diving teams to recover the bodies of personnel who are still missing.

“Diving operations in high seas during turbulent weather is immensely challenging and comes with life-threatening risks. The diver has to descend in near-zero visibility, navigate narrow entry points of a sunken barge, the interiors of which are unfamiliar, search for and retrieve bloated bodies, and be careful throughout this time of oxygen pressure and safety of his equipment from being damaged by unseen protrusions in the hull,” said one of the senior diving officials at the Naval Headquarters.

As the situation stands, a total of 188 survivors have been rescued and 70 bodies recovered. Diving operations for the wreck of Brge P-305 and Tug Varaprada have been successful in locating the wreck and intensive search operations are going on to recover any bodies still trapped inside.

The previous week threw a litany of challenges for the nation. Even as Naval divers search for survivors or their bodies, adrift personnel, capsised barges, and frantic calls for help constituted the minutiae of unimaginable suffering.

Amid all this, the Indian Navy and its personnel — navigators, pilots, divers, doctors and many others — did what they do best — keeping their heads down, fighting adversity and lending a nurturing hand to let stranded Indian citizens know that everything will be alright.

Tags: Barge P-305cycloneGujaratindian navyMaharashtrarescueTauktae
ShareTweetSendShare
Suggest A Correction

Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox.

Related Posts

Gyanvapi case: FIR against DU prof for ‘provocative’ post

May 18, 2022

India’s economy back on track post-pandemic, ongoing Ukraine war: Moody’s

May 18, 2022

12 killed as salt factory wall collapses in Gujarat’s Morbi

May 18, 2022

SC allows OBC quota in MP local body polls

May 18, 2022

US offers strong support to rebuild Pakistan’s economy

May 18, 2022
Hardik Patel

Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel quits Congress, writes scathing letter to Sonia Gandhi

May 18, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

OrissaPOST epaper Sunday POST OrissaPOST epaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

Plastic Free Odisha

Olympian Dutee Chand

Olympian Dutee Chand calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Srikumar Misra-Entrepreneur

Srikumar Misra supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Samanta Singhara Nodal High School students

Samanta Singhara Nodal High School students of Balia, Jajpur support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

IMT Pharmacy College-Puri

IMT Pharmacy College students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack

Students of Tulasipur Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Cuttack call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Balibil Nodal School students

Balibil Nodal School students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Arindam Roy, Actor

Arindam Roy supports call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students

Kalamatia Sahid Bidyapitha students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Angul Govt. College Students

Angul Govt. College Students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Utkal University Journalism Department Students

Utkal University Journalism Department students call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students

Haratiya Bidyaniketan School students of Alipur, Bari support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Swaraj Barik, Actor

Swaraj Barik calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Olympian Anuradha Biswal

Olympian Anuradha Biswal supports a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Debashish Mohanty-Former Indian Cricketer

Cricketer Debashish Mohanty supports  a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sports Person Sradhanjali Samantaray

Sports Personality Sradhanjali Samantaray support a *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie (with fingers ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bridge school students

Bridge school students support plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Gandhi Science Higher Secondary School in Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Gandhi Science Higher Secondary School students of Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar support a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

CRPF 127 Battalion, Bhanjanagar

CRPF 127 Battalion, Bhanjanagar supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you?   *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust

Bhubaneswar Bar Association Lawyer Liberty Trust supports plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sundargarh Public School students

Sundargarh Public School students support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sabyasachi Mishra, Actor

Sabyasachi Mishra calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sudarsan Pattnaik,Sand Artist

Sudarsan Pattnaik support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you?  *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Anubhav Mohanty, Actor

Anubhav Mohanty supports call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website www.orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Members of All Ride Bicycle

Members of All Ride Bicycle supports a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Valena Valentina-Karate Player

Karate player Valena Valentina calls for a Plastic Free Odisha. Have You Joined the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guide

Unit III Bharat Scouts and Guides team call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Sundargarh Public School teachers

Sundargarh Public School teachers support a plastic free Odisha. Do you? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) ...

October 2, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Cuttack New Stewart School Students & Principal

Cuttack New Stewart School students and Principal call for a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website ...

August 29, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Naveen Jindal-Enterpreneur

Naveen Jindal support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you?  *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page Orissapost(@OrissaPOST.Here.Now) *Post your Photos/Selfie ...

August 30, 2018
Plastic Free Odisha

Deepak Kumar-Actor

Deepak Kumar support a Plastic Free Odisha. Do you support the movement? *Visit our website orissapost.com. Like,Share,Subscribe,Recommend our Facebook Page ...

August 30, 2018

Archives

Editorial

Buffalo Killings

People pay their respects outside the scene of a shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. (Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP via theguardian.com)
May 18, 2022

The US as also the rest of the world are now busy dissecting how an 18-year-old white man could kill...

Read more

Shireen Abu Aqleh

(AP Photo via aljazeera.com)
May 17, 2022

Rarely does a journalist get the respect and recognition that Al Jazeera’s Shireen Abu Aqleh, the 51-year-old Palestinian American journalist,...

Read more

Putin’s Problems

May 16, 2022

The irony of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in February is that the enemy he wanted to...

Read more

Outdated Laws

May 15, 2022

The Supreme Court has put a stay on the sedition law, and the Union government has also said the prime...

Read more
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Sports
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Career
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • Home
  • Metro
  • State
  • National
  • International
  • IPL
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Feature
  • Opinion
  • Sci-Tech
  • COVID-19
  • Today’s Pic
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Career
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2020 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST