Southern Naval Command conducts exercise 'Chakravath'

A joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise 'Chakravath,' organised by the Indian Navy in coordination with the Kerala government, commenced here today.

Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated an exhibition at the Sagara Hall of Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) consisting of around 60 stalls put up by various national and state level agencies, NGOs and vendors, for displaying a large range of equipment used for disaster relief.

This was followed by Vijayan witnessing the highlight of the four-day disaster management exercise, the skill Demo, which was conducted in the Mattancherry Channel off the BTP Jetty, CoPT, a Defence release said.

The exhibition witnessed huge participation from the public and generated greater awareness of HADR capabilities of the concerned agencies amongst the local populace of the city.

The Chief Minister was also shown an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp set up by the Army and a Field Hospital, jointly set up by the Navy, Army and General Hospital Kochi.

The skill demo showcased the capabilities and prowess of the Armed Forces, as well as all state agencies, in tackling an emergency using all available resource, the release said.

The setting was the aftermath of a Cyclone hitting the coast of Kerala and demonstrated coordinated actions taken by various agencies.

'Chakravath' is being conducted by the Southern Naval Command, here from April 5 to 8.