The armed forces team are conducting rescue and relief operations in the flood affected states

India’s tri-services-army, air force and navy have joined hands with the civil administration and National as well as the State Disaster Management Authorities in relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, said a release from the Ministry of Defence on Sunday.

Working in close coordination with the administrations of worst-hit Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra, the Army has deployed task forces, comprising infantry, engineers, communication, recovery and medical teams in the affected areas.

The teams conducted rescue and relief operations and saved precious lives in Chiplun, Shirol, Hatkangle, Palus and Miraj areas.

According to the Maharashtra state government as of Saturday night, about 1 lakh 35 thousand people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas. Reportedly as many as 100 people in the state have died owing to the disaster.

In Karnataka, where reportedly 9 have died and 3 are missing in flood-hit areas, the Indian Navy mobilised seven well-equipped flood relief teams along with Naval divers, rubber ‘Gemini’ boats, life jackets and medical equipment for flood relief operations.

The teams evacuated 165 people from Singudda and Bhaire villages near Kadra Dam, while 70 people were evacuated from low lying areas of Kaiga.

Navy’s Advanced Light Helicopters and Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopters has conducted multiple sorties and rescued people marooned due to sudden and sharp rise in the water levels.

They also conducted aerial survey of the affected areas to enable senior officials to assess the situation and plan rescue and relief operations.

Around 400 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were airlifted by Indian Air Force aircraft from Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata and Vadodara to Pune, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra and Goa along with 40 tons of rescue equipment.

More rescue teams and aircraft are on standby for deployment.