Eastern Naval Command ready to deal with Cyclone Pethai

As in the afternoon of 17th December 18th, a cyclone formed on the Southwest Bay of Bengal may create landfall between Machhipitinam and Kakinada, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed high levels of readiness to provide necessary humanitarian assistance.

To send warnings to fishermen and advise them to return to the harbor for shelter in the coming cyclone,
Naval aircraft have flown 11 sorties along the East coast over last two days. In addition, naval ships in the sea also warned fishermen to return to the harbor.

Indian Navy ships stand to provide medical aid to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. Sufficient amounts of additional medical teams, divers, inflatable rubber boats and relief materials, including food, tent, clothes, medicines, blankets, etc. are kept standby. Diving teams with inflatable Gemini boats and related diving equipment have been kept standby for immediate deployment for relief and rescue operations.

ENC is monitoring the developments closely and is in constant communication with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) to augment the rescue and relief operations.
Aircraft are standing by at the Naval Air Stations INS Dega and INS Rajali relief to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, accident clearance and air droplets of relief material to stuck as necessary.

Fishermen of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coast have been advised not to
not to venture into seabecause of deteriorating weather condition in the area with winds gusting over 100 kmph, very high swell conditions and widespread rainfall.