In support of India’s fight against Covid-19 and as part of operation Samudra Setu II, the seven Indian Naval (INS) ships Kolkata, Kochi,  Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa and Airavat have been deployed for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries announced the Indian Navy.

INS Kolkata and INS Talwar, deployed in the Persian Gulf, were the first duo of ships that were immediately diverted for the task and entered the port of Manama, Bahrain on 30 April 2021.

INS Talwar, with 40 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) embarked, should be back to India by now.

INS Kolkata has proceeded to Doha, Qatar, to embark medical supplies and will subsequently head to Kuwait to embark Liquid Oxygen tanks.

Similarly, on the Eastern Seaboard, INS Airavat too has been diverted for the task, while INS Jalashwa, the LPD which played a key role during op Samudra Setu last year was pulled out of maintenance, readied  and sailed out to augment the effort according to the Indian Navy.

INS Airavat is scheduled to enter Singapore for embarking liquid oxygen tanks and INS Jalashwa is standing by in the region to embark medical stores at short notice.

The second batch of ships comprising of Kochi, Trikand and Tabar deployed in the Arabian sea have also been diverted from their mission to join the national effort.

From the Southern Naval Command, the Landing Ship Tank INS Shardul is being readied to join the operation within 48 hours.

Yesterday, Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reviewing all the initiatives the service has undertaken. Adm. Singh told the PM that naval hospitals are “being opened for use of civilians in various [Indian] cities,” adding that “medical personnel in the Navy has been redeployed at various locations in the country to manage Covid duties.” Photos: Indian Navy