Five Naval diving teams pressed into action for Orissa flood

New Delhi, Sep 23 (UNI) The Navy today deployed five comprehensive diving teams with all technical support elements from its Eastern Naval Command for rescue and relief operations in flood affected areas along the Mahanadi River.

This was done in response to the request of the Orissa government, a Defence Ministry statement said today.

The diving teams along with inflatable rubberised boats with out board motors, rescue equipment and medical supplies left for Bhubaneswar yesterday.

They will join two teams of INS Chilka already deployed in the affected areas, in assisting the Special Relief Commissioner in the rescue and relief operations underway.

A total of 37 divers have been put into the rescue relief measure. Additional support manpower has also been mobilised.

Over four million people have been affected in the floods which have played havoc in coastal Orissa submerging thousands of villages and rendering lakhs of people marooned and homeless.

The flood had so far claimed 29 lives and damaged thousands of houses.

According to a preliminary assessment, property worth Rs 2,500 crore had been damaged in the flood which brought as many as 18 of the total 30 districts in the state under its grip.

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