Goa: Coast Guard, Navy roped in for rescues

PANAJI: With parts of Goa’s hinterland devastated due to the heavy rainfall and many villages cut off due to floods and overflowing rivers, the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy were deployed to assist the state authorities.
The heavy showers have disrupted road and rail lines and the state government immediately requested aerial reconnaissance and disaster relief assistance from the men in uniform. Over the last 24 hours, Indian Coast Guard crew flew over four sorties in the Chetak helicopters to assess the damage and to provide relief material to stranded locals.
An advanced light helicopter from INS Hansa was deployed to Ratnagiri to assist in flood relief operations while another helicopter was sent to Mallapur in Karwar district to rescue four individuals who were stranded atop Hotel Highland surrounded by flood waters. The four individuals were airlifted to Ankola stadium.
The Navy was also asked to help rescue a stranded family at Gangem, but the family refused to be evacuated as the water level was expected to recede.
The coast guard’s rescue flights were over Dharbandora taluka and the choppers dropped off personnel, life jackets and buoys to aid search and rescue operations.
The coast guard also distributed relief material, packed food and drinking water to stranded locals. The coast guard has also assembled a flood response team with rescue gear and kept them on standby to assist state government agencies.
Search and rescue teams of the Indian Navy also remain on standby to assist the local administration.