Cyclone Hudhud: Naval diving, relief teams deployed under operation 'Lehar'

Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan said here on Tuesday that naval diving and relief teams have been deployed under operation 'Lehar' in various districts of cyclone battered Andhra Pradesh.

"Indian Navy is lead service with regard to operation Lehar, which has been launched as the tri-service operation between the three services. Our Naval diving teams as well as the naval relief teams have already been deployed in various districts of the state," Dhowan told ANI

Admiral Dhowan also said that efforts were being made in co-ordination with the state agencies to distribute relief material to the various surrounding villages.

"The Navy's Eastern Naval Command will be running this operation. It is our intention to bring all relief material to the surrounding areas in Andhra Pradesh and wherever it is required. In addition, whatever assistance is required to get the airport operational has already been done," he added.

He also said that efforts were on to carry out a survey of the damage which has taken place in the naval airport and other areas, adding that there was no major damage to any of their ships.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier said that nearly one lakh houses have been damaged due to Cyclone Hudhud, along with roads and culverts.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Andhra Pradesh due to the cyclone has risen to 21.