New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday deployed six Mi-17 helicopters and one Chinook for relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Jammu, an IAF source said.
By evening, 90 people, including some Indian Army personnel, had been rescued, the source added.
Earlier, an IAF C-130 transport aircraft and an IL-76 carrying relief supplies reached Jammu to assist those affected by a landslide along the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route near Adhkuwari. Together, the two aircraft airlifted 124 personnel and 22 tonnes of relief material from Hindan Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Chinook and Mi-17 V5 helicopters had been on “active standby” at nearby bases in Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, and Pathankot. The landslide on Tuesday near Adhkuwari had claimed nine lives and injured 21 pilgrims, officials said.
Thousands have been evacuated from low-lying, flood-affected areas as heavy rains continued for the fourth consecutive day, wreaking havoc across Jammu and Kashmir.
By 5 pm on Wednesday, 90 people had been rescued from various flooded locations. Drinking water and food packets are being airdropped to those stranded by the floods.
“The IAF stands ready and resolute in providing succour and support to the affected population,” the source said.
