The Odisha government on Saturday sent a 240-member fire services team to carry out rescue operations in flood-ravaged Kerala. The team along with 75 power boats was airlifted by the Indian Air Force from Biju Patnaik International Airport here. The mission was flagged off by Director General (Fire Services) B.K. Sharma.

"On request of the Centre, the state government is sending a team of fire personnel to Kerala for rescue operations," Sharma said. "This is certainly a matter of pride for the Odisha fire services department. Earlier, Odisha fire personnel had done a tremendous job during Cyclone Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh. They are deployed with modern equipment. We hope that our fire personnel will play a crucial role in the operations," he added.