Indian Coast Guard ramps up response as Cyclone Tauktae surges forward
Indian Coast Guard has undertaken massive deployment of its assets along the West Coast in wake of the formation of cyclonic storm Tauktae over the East Central Arabian Sea. In addition to taking pre-emptive steps in the run-up to the cyclonic storm by warning fishermen to vacate the area and return to the harbour, the Coast Guard on May 15 as part of its daily plan deployed 23 ICG ships and 6 aircraft along the Eastern and Western Sea Coast.
Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director-General, Indian Coast Guard said the above assets have been deployed off Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep Islands and Gujarat coast for alerting fishing boats operating in the area. These assets are also warning merchant ships transiting through the area or at anchorages about impending cyclone and ensuring they take necessary precautionary measure to ensure there is no loss of valuable life and property.
Out of the 3445 Indian Fishing Boats that were reported to be at sea, the Indian Coast Guard with help of the respective departments of fisheries of the states concerned has shepherded 1167 IFBs and ensure their safe return to harbour. Indian Coast Guard has also advised the respective fisheries authorities to recall all boats under their jurisdiction that are operating at Sea. The maritime force has also alerted 113 merchant vessels at anchorage/transiting about impending cyclone
In addition, 40 ICG Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) with Gemini (Lifeboat) and life-saving equipment/response gears have been kept on standby for mobilisation/assistance to civil administration. ICG Remote Operating Stations (ROS) at Tuticorin, Kochi, New Mangalore, Mumbai, Kavaratti and Porbandar are regularly transmitting weather warnings in local languages on VHF for fishermen all along the coast to ensure they return to the safety of the nearest harbours.
Oil rig operators in Offshore Development Areas (ODAs) along the Western seaboard alerted for undertaking preventive measures, the Indian Coast Guard chief said. Port authorities have been requested to keeping tugs on standby for assistance and shifting vessels at anchorage to safer berths. The DG shipping too has been requested to maintain ETV standby for emergency assistance. Coordination meeting was conducted with local administration at Goa, Pipavav and Veraval
All ICG stations have been directed to monitor toll-free number 1554 for immediate response.
THREE RESCUED IN SAR
Earlier, ICGS Vikram under command of DHQ-3 (Karnataka) in a search and rescue mission rescued three fishermen in distress off Kannur in the Arabia Sea of Kerala coast at 10 nautical miles. The IFB (IND KL 08 MO 2536) endured an engine failure. The rescue operations were undertaken at midnight on May 14. The fishermen were provided with food and are healthy condition. ICGS Vikram handed them over to authorities in Kochi.
This post has been published in arrangement with Jaideep J Shenoy
