IAF Training Command rescues 620 people from flood-hit areas

Bangalore, Aug 14 (UNI) Indian Air Force (IAF) Training Command here has successfully rescued 620 people from flood ravaged areas of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the last two weeks.

Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Chetak and Mi-8 helicopters were pressed into service for dropping food and water packets, distribution of medicines and deployment of doctors, besides rescuing people marooned by flood waters in the two states, an IAF release here said today.

The indigenously-designed and HAL-built ALH flew four operational relief sorties to locate the marooned populace on roof tops and drop essential food supplies to the needy. It winched seven people, including a child, from a bus stuck in an overflowing river in Hingoli district of Maharashtra. ALH operating in Yetamal area rescued 262 people and rescued 14 survivors in Nanded district in Andhra Pradesh, besides recovering three bodies.

Chetaks operating in Nanded area had rescued four survivors of which one person was saved from middle of an overflowing stream due to the alertness of Squadron Leader Parandekar.

The IAF Training Command helicopters had flown about 165 hours in flood relief operations and lifted one lakh kg of food materials and other items for the affected people in areas of Nanded, Yevatmal, Bhadrachalam and Rajamundhry. Rivers Godavari, Krishna and Bhima had breached the banks at many places and inundated several villages.

UNI MSP RG RKN1751