Dhruv performs daring missions in flood-hit areas

Bangalore, Aug 17 (UNI) Responding swiftly to the call of the nation during times of crises, HAL engaged its Dhruv, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), in relief works in flood-ravaged States and rescued more than 300 marooned villagers.

Three Dhruvs, operated by both the Indian Air Force and Oil and Natural Gas Commission, were pressed into operation in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for nearly 60 hours for three days and around 20 tonnes of food and water distributed to the stranded people, HAL said in a release here today.

HAL said around 320 people were rescued from the flood waters.

They included seven people, who were winched from the top of a stranded bus in Mahekar, close to Bidar in Karnataka. Apart from this, 262 people were evacuated from two marooned villages close to Nagpur. The helicopters also did low hovering over flooded areas and rescued those who took shelter over tree tops.

On its part, the ONGC operated a Dhruv copter for rescue operations in its Surat Hazira plant, apart from dropping food and water packages in Surat and surrounding areas.

The copters carried out the operations in extremely testing conditions like low-cloud ceiling, poor visibility, strong winds and rain, HAL said.

HAL Chief Test Pilot Wg Cdr C D Upadhyay said the latest operations proved the capabilities of ALH to carry out its mission in adverse climatic conditions.

UNI VK GD PA HT1815