India launches Operation Samudra Maitri

India has launched a massive humanitarian operation "Samudra Maitri" to provide assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims in Indonesia.

• The operation was launched after a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo and following Indonesia's acceptance of international aid.

About Operation Samudra Maitri:

• Under this operation, India has dispatched two aircrafts C-130J and C-17 and three naval ships carrying relief materials and personnel to the country.
• C-130J aircraft had carried a medical team along with tents and equipments to set up a field hospital.
• C-17 aircraft is carrying medicines, generators, tents and water to provide immediate assistance.
• Three Indian Navy ships were deployed: INS Tir, INS Sujatha and INS Shardul to carry out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

About the Earthquake:

• A shallow earthquake of magnitude 7.5 (richter scale) had struck in the neck of Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia on 28 September with its epicentre located in mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi.
• The earthquake was located 77 km away from provincial capital Palu.
• This event was preceded by a sequence of foreshocks, largest of which was a magnitude 6.1 tremor and followed by localised tsunami which had struck Palu, sweeping shore-lying houses and buildings on its way.
• The combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami had led to deaths of at least 1,424 people and injured further 2,549.
• It was the deadliest earthquake to strike Indonesia since 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, as well as the deadliest earthquake worldwide so far in 2018.
• The earthquake had also caused major soil liquefaction in areas in and around Palu.

Question:

Q. Name the massive humanitarian operation that India has launched to provide assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims in Indonesia?
a. Sagar Maitri
b. Samudra Maitri
c. Jal Maitri
d. None of the above