July 1, 2005 - Asadha 10, 1927 - New Delhi
The Indian Air Force is carrying out the relief and rescue operations in full swing in the flood-affected states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. IAF has pressed into operations 11 MI17s, 6 MI8s and 4 Cheetas for the said purpose.
In Himachal Pradesh 4 MI17s are continuing relief and rescue work providing succor to the affected people in Sangla, Recong Po and Pooh. The Indian Air Force is carrying a load of blankets, tents and food packets for the badly affected people in the above mentioned areas. The IAF is carrying load required by the Army to carry out their relief and rescue work.So far IAF has carried out about 75 sorties ca!rrying more than 750 kgs of load and rescuing and communicating more than 400 people in Himachal Pradesh alone ever since the operations began.
IAF Cheetas today rescued a trekking team of the cadets of Armed Forces Medical College from the hills of Kinnaur from an altitude of !about 11,500 feet.
In Gujarat, 7 MI17s reckoned from the bases at Mumbai, Jamnagar and Jodhpur were pressed into operations in Southern Gujarat region.The helicopters are operating from Baroda. The weather is posing an impediment in carrying out the operations.
Despite of inclement weather the IAF is continuing to rescue marooned people and carrying food packets and other relief material in the affected region.
In another major relief mission, the Air Force today has made several sorties to air drop food and drinking water packets to the stranded passengers of a train at Dakor Station between Anand and Godhra stations of the Western Railway. Flood waters have risen above the railway track and have submerged station platform.A total of 8 tones of relief material has been air dropped by the Air Force