Indian Coast Guard Saves 215 Lives In 3 Flood-Affected States

Mumbai: Heavy rainfall over past week has triggered devastating floods in various districts of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka and many areas are still waterlogged.

The Indian Coast Guard swung into rescue and relief operations and saved 215 lives in water-logged areas on Sunday. The ICG dispatched Disaster Relief Teams (DRTs) with inflatable boats and life-saving gear to the affected areas, National Disaster Response Force said in a statement.

The DRTs reached areas rendered unapproachable due to water inundation in Chiplun and Mahad areas of Maharashtra and Umlijoog, Khargejoog, Bodjug Island and Kinnar village in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka and evacuated stranded persons to safety. The affected people were also provided required relief material.

In Goa, Coast Guard aircraft have undertaken aerial assessment of Ganjem Dam, Usgaon and Codli areas, and its helicopter had air-dropped 100 kg relief materials, including food packets and drinking water, for the stranded people.

“The ICG efforts have translated into saving 215 precious lives under the current rescue operation across these three states,” the statement said.

The services of Coast Guard air station at Ratnagiri are also being extended to Indian Navy and Indian Air Force aircraft for airlifting of NDRF teams, relief material and facilitating rescue operations across the affected regions.