Wednesday, December 29 2004 14:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: The Southern Command of Indian Army has launched a massive effort with the civil administration to prevent outbreak of epidemic in the tsunami affected areas besides initiating relief and rescue operations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andaman and Car Nicobar Islands and in neighbouring Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Amidst reports that there could be outbreak of epidemic like cholera, typhoid etc in the affected areas, the Army was coordinating with the civil authorities concerned to check its spread to whom it has already begun providing with medicines, rations, doctors, engineers, personnel and equipment, Major General Staff (MGGS), Southern Command, Major Gen D S Grewal, told reporter in Pune today (Dec 29, 2004).

Grewal said that one column of infantry each was engaged in relief operations at Atomic Energy Plant at Kalpakkam, Kancheepuram and Kollam, while two columns each were at Cuddalore and Nagapattinam doing the same.

He said that the Army has also given names to its relief operations being carried out in Sri Lanka (Operation Rainbow), Andaman and Car Nicobar (Operation Sea waves) and Maldives (Operation Castor).

Besides medicines, blankets and rations for the affected areas, Army has despatched a huge collapsible water tank for Andaman and bridging equipment as replacement for a damaged bridge at Karaikal.