Thiruvananthapuram: Lt. Gen. D R Soni, the chief of the Army's Southern Command, has said the Army wants to ensure that before the next monsoon all logistical requirements are "centrally located" in the region to ensure everything is in place at the time of a calamity.
At a press briefing here on Monday, Gen Soni said that it is imperative that “we are prepared to meet any eventuality… We are here to protect every individual though providing infrastructure is mainly the concern of the Government”.
He said rescue operations were still on and drones being used to help reach people trapped in inaccessible areas. 1,500 Army personnel were engaged in rescue operations and those stranded on rooftops were being winched out with the help of helicopters.
He pointed out the mammoth logistical problem the Defence personnel faced in rescue efforts. "In the Southern Command, we are working on a relief plan. 27 boats were brought from Jodhpur, 15 from Bhopal. Teams have come from Bengaluru, communication and life jackets from Pune," he said.
Maharashtra aid: A team of around 100 doctors and paramedical staff from Maharashtra has left for Kerala. Maharashtra has sent 30 tonne aid consisting of ready-to-eat food packets, milk powder, blankets, bed sheets, clothes, soaps and sanitary napkins to Kerala, an official release said in Mumbai.
