Fifth Indian Navy ship with relief supply arrives in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 December 2004, 15:39 GMT]
A tanker from the Indian Navy fleet, INS Aditya, arrived in Colombo harbour Friday evening with relief supplies, medical teams and other provisions. This is the fifth Indian naval war ship to arrive in Sri Lanka aftermath of the Sunday's tsunami disaster on immediate rescue and relief operation.

Two Russian-built IL-76 transport planes from the Indian Air Force, each consisting full-fledged field hospital each with 70-member medical team and medical supplies, arrived in Colombo today.

Six MI-17 Indian Air Force helicopters are also in Sri Lanka helping the Sri Lankan air force in carrying provisions, medicines and drinking water to remote areas and bringing back stranded persons from these areas to safety areas.

According to the defence sources, INS Sandhayak and INS Sukanya are in Trincomalee, while INS Sharda and INS Sutlej are stationed in Galle assisting the Sri Lankan authorities in relief supply and rescue operation.

These ships have brought medical and general relief items, diving teams and inflatable boats. One naval helicopter on each of the ships is being used for search and rescue operations.