SHILLONG, May 3 - The Eastern Air Command (EAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has kept rescue helicopters and aircraft on standby as cyclone Fani that made a landfall on coastal Odisha today, is slated to hit the North East region some time tomorrow.
Six light helicopters with winch for rescue work, five medium lift helicopters and four AN 32 aircraft have been kept ready with medical relief teams for ferrying relief material, medical help and NDRF teams with equipment, EAC Defence Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh, said.
Some of these helicopters have been kept ready at Bagdogra and Purnea for quick deployment in Odisha and West Bangal. Medium lift helicopters have been kept ready at Silchar and Kumbhigram in the North East.
�The operations centre will be established in either Odisha or West Bengal depending on the situation as it unfolds and the operation is being supervised by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh,� the PRO added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, East Khasi Hills district, has issued a bulletin to the general public that thunder squalls, accompanied by gusty winds and heavy rainfall, are likely to occur at isolated places in the State on May 4 and 5.
People are required to take precautions and ensure safekeeping of all objects such as lumber piles, loose tin sheets, bricks, garbage cans, signboards, etc., which may be blown away by strong winds,� an advisory issued in this regard said.
