India pulls out naval ships from Lanka, Maldives

The naval ships had carried out relief operations and streamlined essential services in the tsunami-hit areas of Lanka and Maldives.

Indian naval ships are being de-inducted from Sri Lanka and Maldives, where they had carried out relief operations and streamlined essential services in the tsunami-affected areas.

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The ships INS Taragiri at Galle port and INS Jamuna at Trincomalee will be leaving Sri Lanka on January 26, while the INS Taragiri will remain in Maldives till January end, according to an official release.

'Operation Rainbow' for assistance to Sri Lanka and 'Operation Castor' for assistance to Maldives were launched simultaneously and by evening of December 26 after the tsunami waves had struck, Indian Navy had deployed 19 ships, four aircraft and 14 helicopters. The main effort was directed towards Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the mainland coasts.

At its peak, 32 naval ships, 21 helicopters of the Navy as also eight fixed wing aircraft were deployed. A total of 5500 Indian Navy personnel were deployed.

Till now, 17 ships (three in Sri Lanka, one in Maldives and 13 in Andaman and Nicobar), 13 helicopters and four aircraft are engaged in relief operations.