With the death toll in the Myanmar cyclone now standing at around 15,000, India has dispatched two naval ships loaded with relief supplies to the cyclone-battered nation, with more relief assistance to be sent by air, according to The Times of India Tuesday.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar Friday night with winds of speed up to 190 kmph.
It subsided after 10 hours Saturday morning, leaving behind large-scale devastation in several areas of Yangon and the Irrawady delta.
According to media reports, officials in Myanmar have put the death toll at around 15,000.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Navtej Sarna said Monday that President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee have sent individual messages to the Myanmar government "expressing their deep distress" at the devastation caused by the natural disaster.
"They have also conveyed India's readiness to provide immediate emergency relief assistance and to assist Myanmar in its rehabilitation efforts," said an MEA statement issued earlier Monday.
According to the MEA press note, two naval ships were being loaded with relief supplies, mainly food items, tents, blankets, clothing, medicines and meals-ready-to-eat (MRE) for immediate assistance. They will be dispatched from Port Blair for Yangon.