Operation Samudra Setu

Indian Navy launches Operation Samudra Setu to repatriate Indian citizens from Maldives due to coronavirus lockdown. The Navy has deployed two ships for operation Samudra Setu, which is part of the bigger “Vande Bharat Mission”.

About Vande Bharat Mission

It is the operation where 64 flights bring back around 15,000 Indian Nationals stranded abroad from May 7 to May 13 amid the Covid-19 lockdown. Once completed, it may turn out to be the largest evacuation operation ever since the 1990 airlift of 1.7 lakh people from Kuwait.

INS Jalashwa

It is the only Naval ship of Indian navy to be acquired from the United States. It is previously known as USS Trenton LPD 14 and commissioned on 22 June 2007. It is an amphibious transport dock. It has the capacity to generate 3MW of electrical power. It is the second-largest ship of Indian Navy and it is capable of undertaking amphibious operations, maritime surveillance, special operations, search and rescue, medical support, and as well as humanitarian relief.

INS Magar

It is the Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy which were commissioned on 15 July 1987. It was built in Kolkata.

Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa and Magar are present en route to Male in Maldives. The total of 700-800 persons is planned to be evacuated during the first trip, catering for COVID related social distancing norms and medical facilities available onboard. It will take around one and a half days for the passengers to reach India. They will be tested for COVID -19 and will be handed over to the state authorities who will send them to quarantine and onward travels.

Image source: Indian Express

Further, INS Shardul attached to Southern Naval Command has also been engaged and it is to bring stranded citizens for Dubai. The evacuated personnel will be disembarked at Kochi in Kerala.

Joint collaboration

This operation is joint coordination of the Ministry of defense, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health Ministry and other various agencies of the Government of India and State governments.