India delivers over 140 tonnes of relief supplies to Myanmar
New Delhi: The Indian government, under its ongoing Operation Brahma, has sent several search and rescue teams, materials, medicines, equipment and has set up a field hospital in Myanmar.
India launched “Operation Brahma” on March 28 to rush the urgently-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the Myanmarese or Burmese devastated by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28.
New Delhi’s spontaneous decision to launch the “Operation Brahma”, as it is hailed now, made waves not just in Myanmar but across the globe.
So far, India dispatched search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), teams of medical experts and relief and medical supplies to Myanmar and also helped pull out those lying under the fallen debris of buildings destroyed by the earthquake.
India also dispatched a mobile hospital supported by specialised search and rescue teams and other personnel on board its military transport aircraft to support Myanmar’s rescue efforts.
India has sent five planes, and four ships with over 140-ton of relief supplies to Myanmar.
A 118-member team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade medical responders, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, has begun treating the affected people.
The Airborne Angels Task Force is trained and equipped to deliver advanced medical and surgical care in disaster-affected zones.
The Army has also established a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to provide immediate care to those injured in the calamity.
On March 30, the first Relief and Rescue Detachment of 10 personnel landed at Mandalay International Airport, Myanmar at 5.45pm MST.
The team has commenced site reconnaissance for establishing the Field Hospital and is currently undergoing orientation of the Area of Operations.
The main body of the party, along with heavy load and equipment, is scheduled to induct by road tomorrow morning.
Indian Navy has sent four warships – INS Satpura, INS Savitri, INS Karmuk and LCU 52 to Myanmar to render assistance. These ships will also delivered 52-ton of relief supplies at Yangon. The HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores, as India Sentinels reported earlier.
In a media interaction, Commodore Raghunath K Nair, Naval Operations said, "We have prepared four ships for this HADR operation. The first ship sailed this morning at 2:00 AM, carrying approximately 10 tonnes of relief material. The second ship departed at 2pm this afternoon. These are INS Savitri and INS Sapura. These ships are expected to reach Yangon on the morning of the 31st."
"However, due to tidal conditions at Yangon Port, they will only be able to enter when the tide permits. Additionally, two more ships under the Andaman and Nicobar Command have been loaded with HADR relief material. In total, about 50 tons of relief material is being transported to Yangon.."
Indian Air Force’s efforts
IAF PRO Wing Commander Jaideep Singh said: “Standing in solidarity with the people of Myanmar, the Indian Air Force continues to work relentlessly in #OperationBrahma, the #HADR mission to earthquake-hit Myanmar.”
Within a few hours, the Indian Air Force pressed its aircraft into service.
So far, 96.3 tonnes of critical supplies and 198 personnel from the Army Medical Corps and NDRF have been airlifted using three C-130Js and two C-17s.
