Five naval warships with relief supplies have left for Sri Lanka, where an emergency has been declared due to the devastation caused by tsunamis triggered by a massive earthquake on Sunday morning in the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Over 1,700 people have been reported killed in the island nation.
Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash directed five naval warships from Mumbai, Kochi and Vishakhapatnam to set sail for Trincomalee and Galle ports in Sri Lanka in response to an SOS received from the Sri Lankan government.
He said the warships were carrying rescue helicopters and boats, naval divers and relief and medical supplies. They will be assisting the Sri Lankan navy in rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has despatched three AN-32 transport aircraft carrying relief and medical supplies to Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands, which have been rocked by earthquake and tsunamis. The aircraft left for Port Blair and Karnic airfields in the Andaman group of Islands.
According to defence ministry sources, the Nicobar island and the Campbell Bay, the nearest points to Sumatra, have suffered damages to infrastructure.
Sources said no death of service personnel had been reported so far. Efforts are on to re-establish communication links with the Nicobar island and the Campbell Bay, they said.
Naval warships are searching for trapped fishermen and civilian passenger liners along the Eastern coast, a naval spokesman said.
The naval and coastguard commands are helping in rescue and relief operations in all major coastal towns and cities, he said.
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