Indian ships first to arrive with relief supplies in Myanmar
7 May 2008, 2151 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

New Delhi, May 7 (ANI): Two Indian Naval ships carrying essential relief material supplies berthed alongside at naval jetty Yangon on Wednesday.

They were the first ships to arrive in Myanmar.

Myanmar Minister for Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement Major General Maung Maung Swe received INS Rana and Kirpan with the disaster relief material and not withstanding the grave situation.

In a brief handing over ceremony, also attended by Deputy Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Myint and Commander of Ayawady Naval Regional Command Headquarters, Commodore Win Sheim.

Indian Embassy Charge-de-Affairs, Manoj K Bharti was also present on the occasion. Captain Deepak Bali, Commanding Officer INS Rana and Ajay Kochar, Commanding Officer INS Kirpan, handed over the essential relief material consisting of clothing, blanket, medicine, food material and other essentials.

The ships braved very high velocity winds from 50-60 knots, shifting sands and other navigational hazards while navigating through the channel.

First hand report indicate massive devastation reminiscent of the Tsunami. Once the relief material is unloaded, the ships are scheduled to return back to India.

Such a fast response in the recent times has been possible due to our ships being on regular deployments in the Indian Ocean Region.

Two AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force also carrying relief supplies have landed at Yangoon and the relief material have been off loaded.

One IL-76 aircraft of IAF is also scheduled to carry medicines, tents and FRP Sheets from Delhi to Yangoon tomorrow. (ANI)