IAF airlifts 5 injured ITBP personnel from Afghanistan

Chandigarh, Jan 13 (UNI) The AN-32 aircraft, modified as 'air ambulance' of the Indian Air Force (IAF), carried out a medical evacuation mission to airlift five injured Indian security personnel of Indo Tibet Border Police(ITBP) deployed at Zaranj province in Afghanistan on January 9.

The soldiers were injured in a suicide attack while being deployed at Project Zaranj on Deleram highway in South Western Afghanistan on January 3. Two personnel-Manoj Kumar Singh and Desha Singh--were killed in the attack.

The specially modified ambulance aircraft airlifted to Chandigarh five critically injured ITBP soldiers and the mortal remains of the two deceased from Zabol in Iran.

This life saving medical evacuation was carried out at a very short notice and was executed in an extremely professional manner.

The aircraft belonged to ''Camels'', a squadron based at IAF Station here. The crew comprised of Group Captain J V Paul, Wing Commander S K Verma, Wing Commander Hemraj, Squadron Leader A K Sharma and JWO R N Verma along with the technical team and medical staff carried out the operation successfully.

The Chandigarh based passport, customs and immigration officials provided cooperation in facilitating the airlift.

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