Air Force flies relief to flood hit Bihar

Chandigarh, Sep 1 (UNI) A total of about 200 tonnes of relief material has been airlifted from Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh till now for the flood affected people of Bihar due to the change in the course of the Kosi river.

Air Commodore S R K Nair, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Chandigarh said that the Western Air Force had entrusted the city based Air Force station to assist in providing relief to affected areas of Bihar.

Both the transport squadrons, popularly known as the 'Himalayan Eagles' and 'Camels' have been actively involved in the rescue and relief operations flying round-the-clock.

As in the past, the role of the IAF was to fly in the relief material, engineer regiments of the Army alongwith their men and material to the flood affected areas.

The relief missions are being undertaken through the day and the night for rapid movement of relief items which include water, boats, medicines along with Army personnel across to Patna, Purnea, Bihta and adjoining airfields of the flood affected areas of Bihar.

The flying operations are being affected by the monsoon which is still active in Bihar. However, the aircrew has been able to overcome the various odds to carryout the assigned task.

The maintenance personnel of the Air Force at Amritsar, Chandigarh and Delhi have also been working round-the-clock to ensure that the aircrafts are serviceable and flying worthy. As a result of the dedicated effort of the aircrew, ground crew and efficient supporting staff, several sorties of IL-76 aircraft and AN-32 aircraft have been already undertaken to flood hit Bihar.

Air Force Station, Chandigarh has once again lived upto its expectations by aiding civil power at times of need. In the past,the Station had undertaken numerous relief operations to earthquake affected Bhuj, Srinagar and Leh valley during road blockage, Mumbai during the floods and the Tsunami relief operation.

The station has also airlifted earthquake relief to China, in the recent past.

UNI HS BK1846