SURVIVORS - DISTEX 2010

1. SUNIL - MALE 33

2. S GANGULY - MALE 32

3. A. MANDAL - MALE 36

4. P. ALAM - MALE 27

5. JAMES - MALE 79

6. P. SHUKLA - MALE 26

DISASTER RELIEF CAMP ( DISTEX) AT BOLGHATTY ISLAND

THE MISSION
Bolghatty Island was hit by a severe cyclone and 20 people were feared missing/ marooned on the island. INS Mysore was at Kochi 250 Nm from Bolghatty Island at 1000h on 05 Mar 10. The ship was tasked to set up a disaster relief camp on the island to render all assistance to the marooned survivors . This essentially included providing medical , logistics and material support including establishing of communication means with central and state government machinery and providing requisite security to all resources deployed.

The ship carried out aerial reconnaissance of the affected region , prior to despatching the relief team. Primary assessment indicated that the island of Bolghatty had been severed from all civilization. The district administration had indicated that about twenty survivors were marooned on the island with no means to establish contact.

The Island was completely cut off from the mainland. Hence the only way to get relief personnel and material was by aircraft or boats. Uncharted dangers in the vicinity of the Island and lack of berthing facility precluded movement of ship alongside.

Specified Tasks
(a) Proceed with despatch to Bolghatty Island after embarking all necessary stores/men/disaster relief bricks.

(b) Provide relief to local populace on the island.

(c) Maintain Law and Order around Relief Camp.
(d) Plan for Rapid evacuation of camp site when ordered.
Implied Tasks

(a) Assess available manpower, equipment and materials onboard which can be spared without affecting the ship’s operating efficiency for providing relief.
(b) Embark additional manpower, equipment and material for relief as required from external agencies.
(c) Embark Seaking ‘C’ and Chetak from command resources prior sailing.
(d) Requisition for aerial reconnaissance of the island prior the ships arrival to identify a suitable berth for the ship to anchor and also to assess extent of damage.
(e) Since there are uncharted dangers in the vicinity of the island, anchor at a suitable area in the vicinity of the island from where relief material can be landed.

(f) Carry out aerial survey using helo.
(g) Land personnel, equipment and stores ashore utilising the three RIB, One Whaler, One Gemini, SC and Chetak to establish a Relief Camp at a suitable location.
(h) Search for the missing/ marooned persons using the ship’s Gemini/boat and bring them to the relief camp.
(i) Set up communication facilities at the Relief Camp HQ to communicate with the ships and HQSNC/ MOC (K).
(j) Maintain a hygienic, well organised and efficient relief camp.
(k) Make suitable arrangements for the disposal/ funeral of the dead bodies.
(l) Establish ALG at the Island.
(m) Suitable arrangements for crowd control.
(n) Establish Cooking facility
(o) Diving team for searching of missing personnel.
(p) Arrangements for media briefing.
(q) Arrangements for Helo drop of relief material.
(r) Arrangements of electricity through portable generators.

Essential Tasks

All the Specified and Implied tasks were considered essential for accomplishment of the mission.

Constraints
(a) Time - The ship was to make ETA off Bolghatty Island by 1000 h on 07 Mar 10 and expeditiously set up the Relief Camp.
(b) Resources - The ship was to embark sufficient resources at Kochi prior sailing to provide relief for 300- 400 persons on the island. Embarkation Plan and Stowage Plan were accordingly prepared.

Phases of Operation - The operation was planned and executed in the following phases :-
(a) Phase I (Mobilisation and Embarkation). This phase included embarkation and mobilisation of all relief resources from concerned agencies to the ship . The Embarkation phase commenced from 1300 hrs on 05 March onwards and was completed by 1400 hrs on 06 March. On completion, the ship sailed out from Kochi at 1700 hrs on 06 Mar 10 so as to reach Bolghatty Island by 1000 h on 07 Mar 10.

(b) Phase II (Site Reconnaissance). This phase included obtaining information post aerial reconnaissance of the area by maritime reconaissance for ascertaining dangers to navigation in harbour, proximity of landing places for boats and verification of the relief camp and ALG site.
(c) Phase III (Disembarkation of Relief Material). This phase commenced post anchorage at 1000 hrs and was completed by 1700 hrs on 07 March . The ship’s boats, Gemini and the helicopter were mobilised for the transfer of the men , camp site material, relief material and the Command Team. Phase III and IV progressed concurrently with the arrival of material.
(d) Phase IV (Disaster Relief). This phase included setting up the relief camp, providing succour to people on the island, searching for the missing/ marooned persons using boats and bringing them to the camp, providing immediate shelter, food and medical services.

For access to list of local residents who were provided medical aid and attention , go to the post titled "SURVIVORS " on this blog.

(e) Phase V (Stabilisation). During this phase necessary epidemic control measures, repairs to infrastructure and contact with state agencies/ NGOs for augmentation of relief operations were undertaken.

(f) Phase VI (Evacuation of Camp). On augmenting the relief operations by the NGOs the Camp was expeditiously evacuated.

INDIAN NAVY'S MIGHTY WARSHIP - INS MYSORE

They say ‘Old Ship Never Die’ their souls live on. In keeping with this long standing Naval tradition Mysore bears the name of an older cruiser, named after the erstwhile princely state of Mysore which had a long illustrious seafaring tradition led by the famous king Tipu Sultan. The ship is the second of its class built indigenously at Mazagaon Docks Limited, Mumbai. The first ship of this class happens to be Delhi and the latest in the trio is Mumbai. Mysore is a guided missile destroyer commissioned on the 02nd of Jun 1999. In continuance of a long history of ship building going back to the times of Kanhoji Angre, the Admiral of the Maratha king Shivaji, it is noteworthy to mention that this class of ships is an entirely indigenous project of the Directorate of design, of the Indian Navy.

Apart from the role played by the ship as an integral part of the Western Fleet, she is also capable and has been tasked with responsibilities including functioning as the Command platform for the Fleet Commander at sea, Disaster relief, wherein it merits mention that Mysore was one of the first ships deployed by the Indian Navy for Tsunami relief in the Indian Ocean Region. Additionally the ship has also been extensively deployed for Presence and surveillance missions as also Diplomacy. The ship was recently deployed for patrol in the Gulf of Aden to combat the menace of piracy.

We have been ambassadors of peace around the globe and Mysore has the distinction of having been the Flag bearer of the nation many a time. The ship has also been deployed overseas on numerous occasions for operational requirements .