India rushes ships to douse fire on vessel off Colombo coast

[The_Sidewinder]

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To save fishes

 

[Hindustani78]

A Sri Lankan woman carries bottles of water through floodwaters in Dodangoda village in Kalutara on May 28, 2017. | Photo Credit: AFP
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...n-water-toll-rises-to-183/article18624301.ece


Following India’s lead in sending out emergency relief to Sri Lanka, more countries have started pledging assistance to provide relief to the flood victims

Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday grappled with the paucity of safe drinking water in flood-hit regions and appealed for public assistance in cleaning up wells contaminated during the country’s worst torrential rains in 14 years that has claimed 183 lives.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the adverse weather condition had left 112 people injured and nearly 6,00,000 people have been forced from their homes, with thousands suffering structural damage from flood inundation and landslides.

State television broadcast called for public assistance to clean drinking wells contaminated by the monsoon floods.

Sri Lanka’s water supply minister Rauf Hakeem said 40% of those affected did not have access to piped drinking water, and there was an urgent need to clean contaminated wells in flood-affected areas.

“Our workers have volunteered to join a major clean up,” the Minister told reporters in Colombo, adding water distribution stations had also been flooded, disrupting the piped supply.

In total, 5,45,243 people of 1,42,811 families had been affected by the weather calamity. The Southwest monsoon unleashed torrential rains, which ravaged fourteen districts in the western and southern parts of the country on Friday and Thursday.

The disaster is described as one of the worst-ever calamities since the 2003 floods.

The official death toll was at 183, with another 110 people were listed as missing, the Daily Mirror reported.

The MeT Department in its weather forecast said the cyclonic storm MORA is expected to get weakened when it enters the Bangladesh land and the possibility for heavy rain and strong winds will be reduced by tomorrow.

However, under its influence cloudy skies, windy and showery conditions are expected over the country.

The MeT Department warned that the sea area off the coast extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Kankasanthurai, and sea area off the coast extending from Galle to Batticaloa via Hambantota can be very rough at times as the wind speed can increase up to 70-80 kmph.

There were scattered showers in many parts of Sri Lanka in the past 24 hours but flood waters were rapidly receding, officials said.

The DMC had issued an urgent evacuation warning last evening instructing residents living along the Kelani River and within the Divisional Secretariats of Kollonnawa, Kaduwela, Wellampitiya, Kelaniya, Biyagama, Sedawatte, Dompe, Hanwella, Padukka and Avissawella to move to safer areas.

The DMC said the residents of Meethotamulla were already evacuated.

It said water levels in the Kelani River were rising rapidly as indicted by the water gauges at Nagalagam Street, Hanwella and Glencourse and warned residents to move away from the vulnerable area as it was under an imminent flood threat.

Those living along the banks of Nilwala Ganga, The Gin Ganga and Kalu Ganga were also asked to move to safer areas because of the rising water levels.

Meanwhile, the DMC requested the people to be vigilant on rising water levels.

“Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and North-western provinces. Heavy falls (about 150 mm) can be expected at some places,” it said.

Charities have warned on Monday that thousands of people affected by the floods and landslides are at risk of potentially fatal diseases such as dengue fever, as the death toll from the disaster continued to rise.

Sri Lanka has sought international assistance, with India sending two naval ships laden with supplies over the weekend.

Indian Navy diving and medical teams arrived in INS Shardul on Monday and have been deployed to assist Sri Lanka Navy operations at Kalutara, Ratmalana and Galle.

Following India’s lead in sending out emergency relief to Sri Lanka, more countries have started pledging assistance to provide relief to the flood victims.

 

[Hindustani78]

A general view shows the floodwaters in Nagoda in Kalutara district on May 29, 2017. | Photo Credit: AFP

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/lanka-floods-death-toll-goes-up/article18664380.ece

The death toll in Sri Lanka’s floods has climbed to 202 with 94 people still missing in the country’s worst torrential rains since 2003 that displaced nearly half a million people.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said at least 629,742 people of 163,701 families have been affected by the bad weather.

The DMC said 1,505 houses had been fully damaged while 7,617 houses were partially damaged due to the floods and landslides. 77,432 people have been displaced.

“There was a good news on the receding water levels in rivers during the past 24 hours due to the low rainfall that ended at 3.30 p.m.,” the Irrigation Department said.

Director (Hydrology) P. Hettiarachchi said the water levels in the Kalu Ganga and the Gin Ganga was decreasing.

Indian naval divers and medical teams have joined rescue efforts in Lanka’s flood-hit regions.

The Indian contingent of more than 300 navy personnel was assisting in the relief, with divers searching the brackish waters and medical teams seeing patients in makeshift tents set up at shelters.

INS ‘Shardul’ has nearly 200 personnel on board, including specialised rescue, diving and medical teams, as well as a large amount of relief material and Gemini inflatable boats.

INS ‘Kirch’ was carrying 125 personnel. It had diving teams, relief supplies, inflatable gemini boats and a mobile medical teams.

A third Indian naval ship arrived on Wednesday, bringing relief supplies including rice, lentils, sugar, milk and blankets for the displaced.

The weather has begun to clear, and many of the more than 100,000 people, evacuated over the weekend, had returned home to clear debris and mud from their waterlogged homes. More than 80,000 others remained in relief camps as their homes were either destroyed or wiped out.

The two rivers overflowing was the main reason for severe flooding more particularly in the southern Galle and Kalutara districts.

The government has initiated efforts to purify wells and other potable water sources which have been contaminated by the floods as tens of thousands of affected people are left without safe drinking water.

Mudslides have become common during Sri Lanka’s summer monsoon season as forests across the tropical Indian Ocean island nation have been cleared for export crops such as tea and rubber. A massive landslide a year ago killed more than 100 people in central Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had sought international assistance, with India sending three naval ships laden with supplies in the last a couple of days.

Following India’s lead in sending out emergency relief to Sri Lanka, more countries started pledging assistance to provide relief to the flood victims.

Australia has said it would provide 500,000 dollars.

A Pakistani relief ship arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

At least three Chinese ships will come Thursday.

 

[Hindustani78]

Special Correspondent
MANGALURU, August 15, 2017 13:46 IST
Updated: August 15, 2017 13:52 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-at-coast-guard-karnataka/article19496624.ece

S.S. Dasila, Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka District, inspecting the guard of honour during the Independence Day celebrations at the Coast Guard unit heaquarters in Mangaluru on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Supplied

The Independence Day celebrations at the Coast Guard Headquarters in its Karnataka unit at Mangaluru on Tuesday had a special significance as the news of its Commander S.S. Dasila being the recipient of Tatrakshak Gallantry Medal of the President of India just came in.

Mr. Dasila, Deputy Inspector General and Commander, reviewed the parade and hoisted the tri-colour to celebrate the occasion. Coast Guard units at Karwar and its Aeronautical Overseeing Team at Bengaluru too celebrated Independence Day.

A release from Coast Guard here said Mr. Dasila was conferred the award for displaying exemplary courage and acts of valour under extreme conditions while commanding Indian Coast Guard Ship Shoor. In April this year, Shoor was involved in a major fire fighting operation spanning over three days and averted sinking of MV MSC Daniella very close to Colombo harbour.

Mr. Dasila’s timely actions in the adverse situation prevailing onboard MSC Daniella, laden with more than 7,000 containers with dangerous cargo, not only assisted in dousing the fire but also managed to rescue the ship from sinking in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, the release said. This act of the officer in response to Lankan Navy request resulted in saving 25 lives onboard.

The release also said Mr. Dasila was commended by the Director General in 2000 for operation ‘Nelson’ (October 1999), the first ever joint anti-piracy operation by ICG and Indian Navy. Pirated vessel MV Alondra Rainbow alias Mega Rama hijacked from South China Sea was successfully captured. It was the first known case in maritime history of pirates being captured along with cargo, the release said.

Mr. Dasila assumed charges as Commander, Coast Guard, Karnataka, in May 2017.

Cycling

Nearly 100 cyclists of Mangaluru ushered in the spirit of Independence by riding through the thoroughfares of the city on Tuesday.

Members of Mangalore Bicycle Club (MBC) and Mangalore Cycling Club (MACC), wearing their club jerseys and helmet, began the ride from City Corporation Office at Lal Bagh. The cyclists went through Bejai and assembled in front of the War Memorial at Kadri Hills to pay tributes to the war veterans. Thereafter they moved through Nanthoor, Kadri, Kankanady, Mangaladevi, Hoige Bazar, Bunder, Kudroli, Mathadakani, M.G. Road, PVS, K.S. Rao Road and Hampanakatte before joining the official celebrations at Nehru Maidan.

Tying tri-colour on their bikes and shouting the slogan “Bharat Maata ki Jai,” the cyclists drew the attention of people en route.

MBC President Donald Menezes, Secretary Ganesh Nayak, MACC Convener Anil Shet, and others wre present.

Both the clubs are actively involved in promoting non-motorised transport to reduce carbon footprints as well as improve riders’ fitness for many years in the city.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-vessel-to-sri-lanka/articleshow/60376037.cms

NEW DELHI: Stepping up cooperation between the two coast guards, India today handed over an off-shore patrol vessel, Varuna, to Sri Lanka, the Indian maritime security agency said.

The ship was decommissioned with traditional honours on August 23 to facilitate the handing over at Kochi.

India has earlier handed over two OPVs of the Indian Coast Guard, Varaha in April 2006 and Vigraha in August 2008.

"The handing over of the Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel to Government of Sri Lanka for training and surveillance purposes is a part of India's continuing efforts for cementing the historical and cultural ties between the two countries," the coast guard said in a statement.

The ship has been allocated pennant number SLCG-60 by Sri Lanka Coast Guard and will be commanded by Captain Neville Amara Ubayasiri.

Prior to the ship's departure to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard crew will be imparted familiarisation and on job training by Indian Coast Guard workup team on ship handling, bridge navigation, engine room controls and machineries.

Rear Admiral SS Ranasinghe, Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Navy was also present during the ceremony.

Handing over ships, patrol vessels, interceptor boats to littoral states in the Indian Ocean like the Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and helping them in capacity-building has been a vital element of the Indian diplomacy.

 

[Hindustani78]

By: AFP | Tokyo | Updated: October 13, 2017 3:10 pm

Three other vessels sailing near the area rescued 15 crew members but 11 others were still missing (Source: Reuters/Representational)

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...r-vessel-sinks-off-philippines-japan-4888419/


Eleven Indian crew members were missing on Friday after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines as a typhoon churned in the region, Japan’s coastguard said.

The 33,205-tonne Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early on Friday as the Hong Kong-registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of the Philippines, said a statement from the Japanese coastguard, which received the distress signal.

Three other vessels sailing near the area rescued 15 crew members but 11 others were still missing, a Japanese coastguard spokesman said, adding that the cargo ship has sunk.

“We have dispatched two patrol boats and three planes to the site but a typhoon has made a rescue difficult,” the spokesman added.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ndian-cargo/article19894792.ece?homepage=true
Colombo, October 21, 2017 11:51 IST
Updated: October 21, 2017 12:23 IST

Seven members of an Indian cargo vessel were on Saturday rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen, according to the spokesperson of the Sri Lankan Navy.

A group of Sri Lankan fishermen had found the Indian cargo vessel heading for the Maldives. They rescued the crew members and handed them over to the Sri Lankan Navy, Navy spokesman Commander Lankanatha Dissanayake said.

The Navy has also announced that they returned six Indian fishing trawlers to India on Saturday. The Navy had seized the trawlers for allegedly poaching illegally in Sri Lankan waters.

Since September this year, Sri Lanka had returned 32 Indian trawlers.

The six trawlers were escorted by the Navy and handed over to the Indian coast guard vessel ‘Rani Gaidinliu’, the Navy said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
23-March, 2018 14:42 IST
GSL Delivers 2nd AOPV to Sri Lankan Navy Ahead of Schedule

Continuing with its unparalleled track record of delivering ships ahead of contractual schedule in last 4 years, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has once again delivered second Sri Lanka Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (SL AOPV) of Sri Lankan Navy ceremoniously at Vaddem, Vasco da Gama yesterday, 25 days ahead of schedule.

The vessel will be the largest and most advanced ship in the Sri Lankan Navy fleet. This is the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) delivered in the current financial year. The ceremony was attended by High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Mrs Chitranganee Wagiswara, Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral N B J Rosayro, Chairman & Managing Director of GSL Rear Admiral (Rtd) Shekhar Mital, directors and senior officials of Sri Lankan Navy, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and GSL.

The SLOPV Project for building two large size ships is one of the most significant defence cooperation between India & Sri Lanka and one of the largest export contracts, being executed by GSL currently for any friendly country. The keel of the vessel was laid on May 9, 2015 and was launched on May 2, 2017. It is creditable for the shipyard to complete this significant export project and deliver the vessel 25 Days ahead of contractual schedule. With this, the shipyard has succeeded in reducing build period of 2,500 Tonnes OPV to nearly three years from over five years taken till about three years ago. Sri Lanka Navy Ship (SLNS) Sayurala, the first AOPV of the series delivered in July 2017 ahead of contractual schedule, is performing exceedingly well and has received positive feedbacks for GSL for the build quality and state-of-the-art machinery.

Speaking on the occasion, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Shekhar Mital said “This state-of–the-art and largest ship in the Sri Lanka Naval fleet will help meet the increasing requirement of the Sri Lanka Navy for undertaking policing and patrolling of its vast Exclusive Economic Zone.” He further added “Great care, attention and forethought have gone in ensuring that this vessel is built to highest standards and the same has been validated in the harbour and sea trials, where ship has achieved all design specifications, to the satisfaction of our special friend Sri Lanka Navy.”

While thanking GSL for delivering two vessels ahead of schedule to Sri Lankan Navy, Mrs Chitranganee Wagiswara said “The delivery of ships to Sri Lanka Navy ahead of schedule shows the excellent shipbuilding talent of GSL staff and its leadership. These deliveries of warships not only immensely enhance the Naval capabilities of Sri Lanka Navy, but also strengthen the close links between Sri Lanka and India.”

Goa Shipyard has a unique distinction of delivering all the ships ahead of contractual schedule and has been officially adjudged as the ‘Best Performing Shipyard’ by Ministry of Defence, besides being the largest exporter shipyard of the country. Turnover of GSL has grown nearly three times with profits rising from (-) Rs 60 crore to over Rs 220 crore in the last four years.

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