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Realising the need for better co-ordination not just in war, but also in dealing with natural calamities, the Indian armed forces have for the first time mounted a joint operation to meet any eventuality following the cyclone threat.
The army, navy and air force are co-ordinating, at the headquarters level, and carrying on this co-operation to the ground level.
The cyclone, which has slightly weakened and changed direction, is expected to hit southern Gujarat on Sunday or early Monday.
A senior official said that a joint rescue plan was being put in place for the first time. "We have always co-ordinated in war; now we are beginning to co-operate in calamity," he said.
Senior officials in the operations wing of the three service headquarters in New Delhi are co-ordinating the operations, planned in case the cyclone strikes. The Joint Planning Committee, an inter-service group, is co-ordinating the work from New Delhi.
The army has deployed moving columns, road clearance parties and emergency communication ports. "We have deployed many troops. If need be, we will send in more," a senior army official said.
Two navy ships are waiting in Bombay, with relief material, including clothes, medicines and emergency tents. "The ships will move into the affected areas as soon as we get information about the storm," a naval official said.
The air force too is actively involved. An air force official said its units in Gujarat were on standby for emergency airlifts and other contingency services.
The three services have set up combined control rooms at Porbandar, Jamnagar and Ahmedabad. From the main control room at Ahmedabad, senior officials on ground, including the commander of the 11 infantry division and his counterparts in the navy and air force are co-ordinating rescue work.
"This time, our response will be better," a senior army official said, recalling that an important lesson learnt during the Gujarat earthquake was the need for better co-ordination between the three services. "After all, today the three services are the most important rescue and relief agencies of the country," he said.
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