Government of India has extended financial assistance of US $ 247,471 for construction of hangar and aviation facilities at the L. Kadhdhoo Airport. India has already gifted a second Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) to Maldives which would be based at L. Kadhdhoo. The above funding would assist Govt of Maldives in developing the airport to host the ALH with better facilities. Today the cheque for the development of facilities at Kadhdhoo has been handed over by Shri Rajeev Shahare, High Commissioner to the Honourable Defence Minister, Mr. Adam Shareef at a meeting at Bandaara Koshi.
As a milestone in India-Maldives defence cooperation, Government of Maldives had inducted an Indian Advance light helicopter in MNDF air-wing in a colourful ceremony on 18 Apr 2010. An Indian Coast Guard contingent has been deployed in Gan in Addu Atoll to maintain and operate the Helicopter, under the control of MNDF. The Helicopter has been renamed as “Kurangi” on its induction into MNDF.
Kurangi has provided yeoman service to the people of Maldives. Medical evacuations have been the mainstay of the missions undertaken by Kurangi thereby rendering humanitarian assistance in difficult conditions, especially at night and from islands which do not have an airport. The medical evacuations undertaken have gradually increased with time. The contingent has undertaken 69 medical evacuations and saved 73 lives since its induction. Apart from medical evacuation the contingent has assisted in many MNDF operations like troop transport and training in wet winching. The helicopter is an important Search and Rescue (SAR) platform available to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Male’ and has undertaken 16 SAR missions. The most important mission was undertaken on 10 August 2015 when the helicopter flew to about 54 miles south of S. Gan to intercept the boat ‘Fahir-Roalhi’, which was engaged in illegal activity.
The contingent has been tasked for 271 operational sorties by MNDF and has flown close to 1025 hrs since inception in service of Maldives. Kurangi and the Indian contingent in Gan are an important symbol of long standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. |