Operation Samudra Setu, Phase 1 and Phase 2 Details

The Indian Navy launched Operation Samudra Setu as part of the Vande Bharat Mission which aimed to bring back thousands of Indians stranded abroad during Covid 19. The operation lasted over 55 days, traversed a distance of 23,000 kilometers by sea and four Indian Naval Ships- INS Jalashwa (landing platform dock), INS Airavat, INS Shardul and INS Magar (landing ship tanks) participated in this operation. The operation successfully brought 3992 Indians back home.

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Operation Samudra Setu Vande Bharat Mission

Operation Samudra Setu was part of wider Mission Vande Bharat which aimed to bring back 

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Indians who were stranded all across the world during Covid-19. The Mission was carried out in a phased manner under various operations spanning over months.

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Operation Samudra Setu Phases

Operation Samudra Setu was carried out in 2 phases

Phase 1

• 4 Indian Naval Ships – INS Jalashwa (landing platform dock), INS Airawat, INS Shardul and Magar (landing ship tanks) participated in this phase. 
• Approximately 4000 Indians stranded in neighbouring countries were repatriated safely to India
• To avoid any incident of outbreak of infection on board a number of arrangements  were planned and implemented each unique to the operating environment of the ship 
• Ships used were provisioned with clinics and military nursing staff along with women officers were also on board to facilitate movement of female passengers.
• Citizens were repatriated majorly from 3 ports- Male, Bandar Abbas and Colombo
• Naval Personnel innovated certain customized equipments such as Navrakshak, hand held temperature sensors, assisted respiratory system, 3d printed face shield, air evacuation stretcher pod etc which were onboard these 4 ships undertaking Operation Samudra Setu
• Niche equipments were also provided to host countries from where evacuation was undertaken
• Citizens who were repatriated were disembarked on various ports and entrusted to the care of respective state authorities. 
• The mission involved close coordination between Indian Navy, Ministry of External Affairs, Health Ministry, home ministry and various other central and state government bodies

Phase 2

• Launched in 2021, phase 2 of Operation Samudra Setu was aimed at shipment of oxygen filled containers or LMOs (Liquid Medical Oxygen) to India in order to fulfill oxygen requirements of the country during second wave of Covid-19 
• The Navy deployed 7 warships for the purpose- INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Talwar, INS Tabar, INS Trikand, INS, Jalashwa, INS Airavat for shipment of Oxygen filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipments from various countries 
• The supplies were majorly brought in from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Singapore. 
• The oxygen containers were facilitated by French Mission as part of Oxygen Solidarity Bridge and Oxygen cylinders were gifted by Indian Diaspora in Qatar

Through successful completion of Operation Samudra Setu India demonstrated the flexibility of its Navy and solidified its position as “First responder” in the maritime domain. Apart from instilling the belief of being cared for, among its citizens stranded abroad India also strengthened its claim of being a preferred maritime partner in the Indian Ocean Region beyond any doubt.