Southern Naval Command Marshals Resources for Kollam Tragedy

INS Kabra (pictured) and INS Kalpeni docked at the Kollam port on Sunday. The Southern Naval Command in Kochi has made arrangements for medical supplies and a complete medical team

Kollam: Following the inferno at the Puttingal Devi Temple here in the early hours of Sunday, the Southern Naval Command at Kochi pressed into action its medical team along with equipment and materials using ships and aircraft.

Six Aircrafts (Two Dornier fixed wing aircraft, two ALH helicopters and two Chetak helicopters) and three IN ships namely Kabra, Kalpeni and Sunayna were earmarked for the requirement.

Two ALH with a nine member medical team along with three doctors, paramedics, supplies and equipment were rushed to the scene.

The helicopters landed at the Ashramam Ground, Kollam at 1200 hrs. One Dornier aircraft from Kochi was positioned at AF Stn Trivandrum since noon. The rest of aircraft were on standby at Kochi.

Indian Navy ships Sunayna, Kabra and Kalpeni sailed immediately from Kochi with 200 kg medical supplies and a complete medical team.

INS Kabra and Kalpeni reached alongside Kollam jetty while INS Sunayna is off Kollam awaiting instructions as per situation.

The medical supplies have been handed over to the local administration. Ships have kept blood donors ready to meet emerging requirements of Blood.

A relief camp has been set up at Kollam to co-ordinate all relief activities by the Navy, which was visited by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Regular contact is being maintained with state officials. Ships as well as medical teams have been directed to remain at Kollam for rendering assistance.