IAF helicopters supply relief material in Jammu and Kashmir's snow-affected areas

New Delhi, June 2 (ANI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters are flying sorties from Udhampur and Kishtwar as a part of the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the snow and landslide affected areas in response to a request made by the Jammu and Kashmir District Administration.

Heavy and unseasonal snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar District has caused widespread landslides and led to trapping of a large number of people, mainly the Nomadic Gujjars 'Backarwals' and their cattle while they were migrating upwards to the pastures at higher reaches in Kishtwar for summers.

With the inhospitable terrain and approaches to most of the affected areas being closed due to landslides, the IAF's help was sought to conduct a survey and relief team as well as to drop initial relief material in affected areas.

"On May 31, we flew nine sorties from Kishtwar to Ishan inducting a team of civil administration personnel and 400 Kgs of relief material in the affected areas," said Air Vice Marshal J Chauhan, Air Officer Commanding Jammu and Kashmir.

"Yesterday also (on June 1), a Mi-17 helicopter flew for two-and-a-half hours with the civil administration team and dropped about 300 kilograms of relief material, primarily blankets and survival food in the affected areas," he added. (ANI)