Soon after meeting the challenges of Kargil conflict, when the unit had added its mite by supplying food which could withstand the vagaries of nature, the Orissa calamity has not found them unprepared.

A team of three scientists from the premiere research institution, Defence Food Research Laboratory, visited the cyclone-hit area to personally supervise the distribution of food.

Speaking to The Indian Express, DFRL Additional Director Santhanam said that ``earlier, we were supplying pre-cooked food as the water in cyclone hit areas was contaminated''.

However, with things easing DFRL is downloading huge quantity of pre-cooked and dehydrated food. The food packs are airdropped or carted to the needy with the help of Army personnel.

The dehydrated food ``when added with water increases involume,'' he said adding that this would cut on the cost of transportation and make huge quantity of food available to the hungry.

According to DFRL officials, the demand for pre-cooked food has increased threefold with authorities making contact with ``pockets which were earlier cut off from the mainland''.

Upma mix, halva and pulav which has the shelf life of one year has been supplied to the cyclone affected. Packed in tight containers, these food items can be consumed straight from the pack.

However, the pre-cooked ready to eat Food was proving to be tough while transporting it due to its volume. Santhanam said that when potable water was made available, DFRL started supplying dehydrated food items which include pulav and chapati.

The lab officials have stated that unlike the Kargil conflict, the need now is to supply food for immediate consumption. ``This means we don't need items with a long shelf life''. However, for the soldiers, the DFRL had supplied foodwhich they could carry in their backpacks and consume after months.