Cyclone threat may force Navy to reschedule operational demo in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy is gearing up for rescheduling its operational demo (Op Demo) here in connection with the Navy Day celebrations due to at Vizag Likely to the cyclone threat.

The low-pressure in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ and cross the Eastern coast between North Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh around December 3 and 4.

The Eastern Naval Command has put all personnel and platforms on high State of readiness and is fully prepared to undertake any Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Relief Operations, if the need arises, a naval release stated on Friday.

All Naval Area Commanders have carried out preparatory activities to mitigate the effects of the cyclone and are in constant liaison with the State Administrations to render assistance as and when required.

Considering the safety aspects of the large number of spectators, Naval assets and personnel involved in the Complex Naval Demonstrations planned as part of Navy Day celebrations, a few Navy Day activities namely Op Demo and the C-in-C's 'At- Home' function in Visakhapatnam may be rescheduled, based on weather conditions.

As part of the preparedness, flood relief teams and diving teams have been kept standby to augment the existing resources. Indian Naval ships are on standby with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks, diving teams, medical personnel to render assistance in the affected areas along the east coast. Naval aircraft have also been kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega in Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali near Chennai to undertake aerial survey, casualty evacuation, and airdrop of relief material, as required.