Flood relief operations put IAF helicopters on war footing

Following a request from the Karnataka and Andhra state governments to assist it in the relief and rescue operation, Training Command responded to the call and immediately launched helicopters and fixed wing acs for rescue and relief operations.

A round-the-clock flood relief cell had been set up at Air Force station Yelahanka and Hakimpet to meet the situation. The meteorological department of Air Force station Yelahanka had also been activated to assist the civic authorities in respect of weather warning round-the-clock.

In Karnataka the worst affected have been the Bellary and Raichur districts. The first helicopter with the specialist equipment to winch up survivors got airborne early morning on 02 Oct for the affected areas.

By afternoon six helicopters of IAF station Yelahanka flew 12 sorties, dropping about 750 Kgs of relief material mainly food packets in and around the flood-hit areas and saving 43 of lives by carrying out live winching.

Air Cmde V S Bharti, the Air Officer Commanding air force station Yelahanka, who is overlooking the flood relief operations, said, "Intermittent rains and thunderstorms are affecting the operations." However, IAF would provide relief and succor to the affected population despite inclement weather.

In all, the IAF helicopters saved precious lives in the flood-affected. They came as the last hope to the hapless victims especially women and infants perched precariously atop trees, temples, poles, and the roofs of their houses and hutments and even Buses.

The Indian Air Force personnel evacuated about 12 people caught, in neck-level deep water in low-lying areas of the Bellary district and dropped them at safe places; In addition 32 lives were saved from Mantralayam in Raichur district. The crew of the helicopter would hover close to the rooftops on which the people had gathered in the low-lying areas, with flood waters lapping at their bodies. One by one, the people were tied to a harness and winched up into the helicopter, once full; the helicopter would fly away to the safe ground to disgorge the survivors. This is how the Air Force angels acted throughout the day!