The ‘Corona War’ as we may call it has now entered its fourth month. Its initial epicentre was Hubai province border but thereafter has engulfed the entire World with more than 190 countries affected now. We could surely categorise this as the”Third World War”. The only difference is that we have an unseen enemy and do not have any weaponry (vaccine) in our armoury to neutralise it. At best we are putting up a defensive mechanism in place akin to hiding in bunkers till the air strikes are over; unfortunately no air force jets to counter this strike.
In the coming months, the war against the ‘Wuhan Virus” is going to escalate with no ‘cease-fire’ in the offing. The casualties are mounting day by day with over 50000 people having succumbed to it across the globe. Countries like Italy, Iran, Spain and the USA are fast getting infected at an astonishing pace. The consequences will be a catastrophe of the highest magnitude. The casualties may even surpass taking into account all the World Wars combined.
The Indian Govt has been proactive and has initiated measures such as lockdown, social distancing, streamlining the public distribution system, economic package for the poor etc. The media has also played a very important role. Will these measures be adequate to contain the spread of the virus or more is required to be done is the question in everyone’s mind today. It is indeed a piquant situation, wherein, the following question needs definite answers.
# How much of the population is likely to get affected?
# Do we have adequate medical resources to treat the infected population?
# How long would the virus last? Any definite timeline envisaged?
# Do we have a damage control mechanism in place in case of escalation?
# When will the counter vaccine be ready?
Before trying to analyse the above aspects, it may be pertinent to outline a plausible ‘Corona Strategy’ to fight this war.
Taking a leaf out of executing a successful military campaign let us try templating it to this situation. The key ingredients of a successful military campaign may involve the following:-
- In terms of capability building both human as well as material.
2 Exemplary leadership on a team-based approach with quick decision making capability.
- Both at the tactical, operational and strategic level.
- In terms of information of the adversary and counter measures.
Therefore in general terms the essentials could be summarised as planning, executing, controlling and concluding. The manner in which the operation would be terminated would often influence the public perception of its success.
Presently, the strategy of the Govt has encompassed all the above ingredients, with variation in the degree of success. Let us study this. The Govt delayed its response to the outbreak of the virus by at least two months. The major factors incorporated in its planning process were the medical establishments and the law enforcing agencies. The private sector got involved at a later stage. However, the Indian Armed Forces with its capabilities, equipment and trained manpower has not yet been incorporated in joining the ‘Carona War’. Will it be a case of “too late too little”, when the situation goes out of hand.
It would be going without saying that there is no better organisation than the Indian Armed Forces, to be a part of the Govt machinery to combat this virus. As with any other machinery, whether its food or pandemic, the usual response is to call the military as the most reliable and efficient organisation in times of crisis. During the Ebola crisis in 2014, the US Army deployed more than 400 personnel to Africa to deal with the outbreak. The force was lead by 101st Airborne HQ and built 17 hospitals, delivered aid to the local authorities and helped the medical organisations with logistics and transportation.
Let us now see how many militaries the World over have responded to this global spread of ‘Wuhan Virus’. Let’s start with China where the virus originated. The response of People Liberation Army (PLA) was extremely prompt in fact within one month of the outbreak of the virus. Currently, 10000 medical personnel of PLA are providing support to the provinces of Hubai and Wuhan by setting up two make shift hospitals and giving the necessary logistics support. The US Army has contingency plans in place to erect field hospitals and move the infected persons in isolation pods in cargo planes. Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei has called the Armed Forces to join the health ministry in the fight against the ‘Wuhan Virus’. The Iranian Army has mobilised 3,00,000 soldiers and volunteers. In France, four out of the eight Armed forces hospitals have been mobilised. France has a specialised Army Unit dedicated to combating nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical threats.
3 Based at Marie-et-Loire, the 2nd Dragons Regiment is currently on standby. This unit was also deployed in Guinee in 2015 to deal with the Ebola crisis.
It is now time for the Indian Govt to take a call with regard to the mobilisation of the Indian Army for the ‘Corana War’. There is no better trained and equipped force in the country to deal with this situation. The Indian Army has CBRN(Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) units especially trained and equipped with special equipment for de-contamination of the infected areas and set up isolation camps. The Indian Army also has CBRN monitoring reconnaissance vehicles developed by DRDO. Further, the highly specialised medical infrastructure of the Indian Army can be utilised with the field hospitals being mobilised. Another important area where the Indian Army could play a key role could be in terms of logistics and supply chain management. Distribution centres can be set up in each locality to augment the existing public distribution system.
The Govt therefore needs to adopt a multi-pronged strategy which should have its verticals as Medical, Law Enforcement, NDMA, Indian Army and Private Sector. Joint Operation Rooms(JOR), need to be set up in each largely infected cities. Specialised ‘Carona’ sub-hospitals to come up in these areas manned by Govt and Army doctors with private hospitals augmenting the infrastructure. The logistics chain to be built up with the support of the Indian Army. Distribution centres set up in each of these population areas stocking all essential dry rations, vegetables and dairy products. System be geared up to deliver these items to poor households. Fast track orders for medical supplies and protective equipment to be processed on priority, especially ventilators.
The Indian Army has always risen to the call of the Nation, during natural calamities as well as aid to civil authorities. The Govt needs to give this ‘Clarion Call’ now. The Carona War has to be won at all costs. Jai Hind.
Maj Gen Rajan Kochhar, VSM, retired from the Indian Army, as Major General Army Ordnance Corps, Central Command, after 37 years of meritorious service to the Nation. Alumni of Defence Services Staff College and College of Defence Management, he holds a doctorate in Emotional Intelligence and is a reputed expert on logistics and supply chain management. Gen Kochhar, a prolific writer and defence analyst, has authored four books and invited as an expert commentator by various news TV channels. He is an Arbitrator with the Ministry of Defence.
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