3-Apr-2020: IAF Continues Its Support Towards Fight Against Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Indian Air Force continues its support to contain the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. The medical supplies are being transported to equip the state governments and supporting agencies to combat the contagion effectively and efficiently.
During the last two days, IAF airlifted essential medical supplies and commodities from nodal points to Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Mohanbari in North Eastern region; Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Agra in the Central region; and the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
In addition, IAF airlifted critical medical supplies to Male, Maldives as 'Operation Sanjeevani' on 02 Apr 20. Maldives has faced shortage of essential medical supplies as its connectivity with India– its main source of medical supplies, was broken after COVID-19 lockdown. Active support of MEA, HQ IDS, MoHFW and various other government agencies was invaluable to the success of this mission.
Quarantine facilities created at IAF bases across the country continue in a state of readiness. IAF is ever ready and geared up to meet all the emerging needs in support of the nation to fight the pandemic.
31-Jan-2020: INS Airavat Providing humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief at Antsiranana, Madagascar (OP Vanilla)
Indian Naval Ship Airavat, arrived at Port Antsiranana, Madagascar on the morning of 30 January 20 for undertaking Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission as part of ‘Operation Vanilla’.
The ship whilst mission deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean was diverted as part of 'Operation Vanilla' launched by the Indian Navy to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane. On arrival, Commander Sunil Sankar, the Commanding Officer and his team held a meeting with the local Madagascar authorities along with the Indian embassy officials.
Relief material comprising disaster relief stores, tentage, blankets, clothing, food and medicines are planned to be handed over on 01 February 20. Medical and Disaster Relief Teams from the ship are being deployed to affected areas as required by local authorities.
The Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to render all necessary assistance to the local populace of Madagascar.
29-Jan-2020: Indian Navy Launches 'Operation Vanilla' to Provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief at Madagascar
Indian Navy Ship Airavat, whilst mission deployed in the Southern Indian Ocean has been diverted to Antsiranana based on request received from Madagascar. The ship will undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission as part of 'Operation Vanilla' which has been launched to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane.
During the port call, the ship, in coordination with Embassy of India and Government of Madagascar is planned to undertake relief operations to provide succour to the flood affected populace. The Indian Navy Ship is geared to set up medical camp and provide food, water and other necessary relief material.
The situation is being monitored and the Indian Navy is prepared to render all necessary assistance to the local population in Madagascar.
8-Jul-2019: BSF launches Operation Sudarshan
The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive exercise, code named ‘Sudarshan’, to fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu.
The operation was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire 1,000-km length of the India-Pakistan International Border. While Jammu shares about 485-km of the border with Pakistan, about 553-km of the front is in Punjab. It further runs down towards Rajasthan and Gujarat on India’s western flank. The BSF is the primary force guarding this frontier as the ‘first line of defence’.
Huge assortments of heavy machinery, communication interceptors and mobile bulletproof bunkers have been mobilized as part of the exercise.
Frontier and battalion commanders (from the Inspector General to the Commandant rank), their second-in-command and company (unit) commanders of the about 40 battalions of the BSF are camping in the forward areas of the two states to finish the operation within a fortnight and be at their bases by July 15, by when the monsoon will unleash heavy rains and cut easy access to these locations.
The commanders of the force have been asked to prepare their watchtowers and sentry posts better, replenish arms and ammunition dumps, strengthen artillery positions, check and plug border fence breaches, detect underground and cross-border tunnels and make all operational and logistical arrangements to strengthen the vigil along the sensitive and infiltration-prone border.