Indian Navy's INS Talwar reaches Mangalore port with Oxygen from Bahrain

New Delhi: Indian Naval Ship Talwar, the first ship of Operation Samudra Setu II, entered the port of New Mangalore in Karnataka on Wednesday with 54 tonnes of liquid oxygen from Bahrain.

The Indian Navy launched 'Operation Samudra Setu II' as part of the ongoing efforts to fight the raging COVID-19 pandemic to bring in much-needed Oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries by sea.

"As many as nine warships have been diverted to various ports in the region extending from Kuwait in the west to Singapore in the east," said Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Indian Navy Chief.

A press note stated that Indian Naval Ship Airavat has departed from Singapore with more than 3,600 oxygen cylinders and eight 27 ton oxygen tanks and is India bound. Additionally, INS Airavat from Singapore and INS Kolkata from Kuwait are heading back home with Liquid Oxygen, Oxygen filled cylinders, cryogenic tanks and other medical equipment.

"While, three more warships are scheduled to pick up more supplies from Kuwait and Doha, the LPD INS Jalashwa, mission deployed in South East Asia is ready to be diverted to ports in the region as situation demands," Vice Admiral MS Pawar said.

Further, on the Western Seaboard INS Kolkata, deployed in Persian Gulf, departed from Kuwait after embarking two 27 ton oxygen tanks, oxygen bottles and concentrators, Indian navy stated.

"Just as last year Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu to repatriate our distressed citizens from IOR countries, let me assure the countrymen that the Navy will continue with its efforts to bring relief and together, we will overcome this challenge," Pawar said.