GUWAHATI, April 30 � Stepping up efforts to help Nepal, struck by severe earthquakes, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is providing relief to the people in distress in the Himalayan nation. Since April 25, the IAF has airlifted nearly 3,000 people, flying over 35 fixed wing sorties by C-17 Globemaster III, IL-76, C130J Super Hercules and AN-32 aircraft. The IAF also delivered around 240 tonnes of relief material and equipment.
Eight IAF medium lift helicopters (MLH) are positioned in Nepal out of which six are at Kathmandu and two at Pokhra, performing extensive rescue and relief operations. Over 250 casualties have been evacuated by the helicopters while providing 25 tonnes of relief material.
It would be pertinent to note that transport and helicopter aircraft are being utilised extensively for human assistance disaster relief (HADR) operations. The IAF after proving its mettle in bringing succour to scores of people after the Yemen evacuation this month and during the Jammu & Kashmir floods in September last year, has once again risen to the occasion adding a pioneering chapter in disaster relief by bringing relief to stranded people evacuating them from earthquake-hit areas in Nepal.
