Army coordinating with civic admn for flood relief in Mah

Mumbai, Aug 8 (UNI) The Army has been providing assistance on a war footing to the civil administration in bringing the situation under control in the flood affected areas of Maharashtra.

The Army so far has carried out extensive and large scale rescue and relief operations in the flood affected villages of Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Solapur districts in Western Maharashtra, a Ministry of Defence release here today said.

So far, the Army has already provided six relief columns comprising as many as 700 personnel, in these districts. Relief columns incorporate Army engineers with motor boats for rescue, medical teams for medical assistance and relief personnel.

Troops and equipment are being brought in from various parts of the State like Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Bhusawal and Kamptee, the release said, adding that to speed up the rescue operations boats have been airlifted from various parts of the country and placed at central locations.

The civil administration has also asked for the help of the Army for rescue and relief of the affected population in the districts of Nanded, Parbhani, Washim, Hingoli, Jalna, Yavatmal and Akola, the release added.

UNI GS GK SP KP1839