Ahmedabad: The IAF operating 05 MI-17V5 helicopters on July 25 from different locations airlifted over 160 people to safety and carried over 3400kgs of relief material to designated places mostly in Banaskantha district of Gujarat while also carrying NDRF teams to desired places to conduct rescue operations in Jalore district of Rajasthan.
Going by the mounting number of people stranded amidst flood waters in different districts of the state and the weather forecasts showing no signs of improvement in the next 24-48 hours, the Headquarters South Western Air Command has issued directions to its bases, aiming to keep over 20 aircraft in a state of readiness to launch flood relief and rescue operations on Wednesday.
Arrangements have also been made to further bolster the numbers with augmentation from other Commands if the need be.
Uninterrupted rain and the prevailing and weather conditions have resulted in an increase in the number of requests being received from the state government for aerial evacuations. With no letting up in the water levels due to continuous downpours, the IAF on its part is leaving no stone unturned to step in for humanitarian assistance with all the resources at its disposal.
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