Indian Navy ships in Bangkok on goodwill mission

Bangkok, Apr 7: Two Indian Navy ships have arrived here on a five-day visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations. INS Rana and INS Kirpan entered Bangkok port this morning where they were greeted by Thai school children. The ships are led by Rear Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet and Captain Deepak Bali.

INS Rana, a 'Rajput' class vessel has 320 crew members, including 35 officers and INS Kirpan, a 'Khukri' class ship, has 79 crew on board, including ten officers. The ships' crew will conduct community service in a large slum settlement near Bangkok port in collaboration with a Thai NGO working with the slum dwellers. Indian naval medical personnel will run a health camp for the slum residents and other crew members will help repair and refurbish classrooms for slum children.

They will also distribute cooked Indian food and food packets to the slum people.

UNI