Top Air Force official in Leh to oversee relief work

LEH - Western Air Command chief Air Marshal NAK Browne, under whose charge the northern sector falls, has visited Leh airbase to oversee the relief and air bridge operations.

He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal R Sitaraman.

During his visit, he reviewed the infrastructure of Leh airbase and discussed the situation with Union Minister Prithviraj Chauhan who is already there.

The Air Marshal also met the station personnel and commended them for restoring full fledged operations from Leh airbase in record time of seven-and-a-half hours.

As a result of this, a total of sixteen flights (both IAF and civil) were undertaken on Saturday and twenty two flights on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has transported BSNL equipment from New Delhi and Chandigarh to the affected area.

Besides, the IAF has also airlifted a heavy duty bulldozer from Chandigarh to clear the debris there.

One IL-76 aircraft was used to transport BSNL equipment from New Delhi while two AN-32 aircraft airlifted additional equipment from Chandigarh. An IL-76 aircraft was pressed into service to transport one heavy-duty bulldozer.

Relief material, medical items and 5,000 blankets were airlifted from Delhi taking into account the requirements projected by the Jammu and Kashmir government.

“Two tonnes of relief material were also taken by an AN-32 aircraft from Udhampur. Bodies of ten victims of the mudslide were brought by two AN-32 aircraft to Udhampur. One Cheetah helicopter placed at Leh was utilized for casualty evacuation of a Spanish citizen from Egu to Leh today,” a Defence Ministry release said.

Twenty nine Columns of Army personnel are deployed in the affected area for relief and rescue operations.

“Ninety five people from Hanoyogma village near Handen Brooke, whose houses have been washed away, are being provided food and shelter by the nearby Army post,” it added. (ANI)