PTI, KOCHI: Lok Sabha MP P P Mohammed Faizal today alleged that the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard failed to respond promptly in tackling the crisis due to cyclone Ockhi, which left a trail of destruction in the Lakshadweep islands. The Lakshadweep MP said he would write to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard. “We have not got adequate help from the Navy and the Coast Guard. They failed to respond promptly in the adverse situation,” Faizal told PTI.
He also said that he had spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who assured him that a team of officials would be sent to the island. A defence spokesman, however, refused to comment on the allegations. Minicoy and Kalpeni islands were the worst hit by the cyclone and several houses there were severely damaged, Faizal said, adding no casualties have been reported so far. Meanwhile, a defence release said tonight, INS Shardul from Kochi is heading towards Minicoy island with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) “bricks”, which include water and dry provisions.
It also consists of medical equipment, blankets, generators, salvage equipment, desalination and decontamination kits. The relief material would sustain 2,000 people for over a period of seven days, the release said.
