New Delhi: The entire country is appreciating the Army, IAF, ITBP and NDRF for their rescue work in Uttarakhand. Operation Rahat is the name of the IAF operation launched to rescue the stranded people in the floods and landslides-hit areas of Uttarakhand. IAF helicopters are not only supplying food items and medicines to the needy, but also bringing back the rescued people to safer places.
But such a massive operation would not have been possible without IAF's latest acquisition the majestic C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, based at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad. When helicopters faced the possibility of fuel shortage while flying to the far flung and cut-off areas in Uttarakhand the C-130J Super Hercules came into the picture.
A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft joined the operation and took 8000 litres of fuel to the Dharasu airbase where it was stored and used by the helicopters.
The rescue operations gained momentum after this. Hindon Airbase Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Commodore Anil Sabharwal said that there is sufficient ATF to carryout the rescue missions.
Another C-130J Super Hercules carried out a reconnaissance in many parts of Uttarakhand including Harsil using its modern radar to locate the trapped people. After getting this information, IAF deployed eight Mi 17IV/Mi 17 V5 helicopters to carry out the challenging mission of rescuing those still stranded.
An Air Force official Rakshit said that they try to rescue the old, injured, women and children first and if they are with their family, then they ensure that all of then are rescued together so that they do not worry too much. The IAF official added that they are not able to rescue all in one sortie, they console and tell those left behind that the helicopters will be back soon to take them to a safe place.
Even the IAF's Avro and six AN-32 planes have played a vital role in the missions. AN-32s are being used to carry bridge making and road construction equipments to the area.
The Army was called up two days after the horrific tragedy in Uttarakhand and the force launched Operation Surya Hope to rescue thousands stranded in the state.
Army units set out to repair and made several temporary roads and bridges to help rescue the people. Almost 50 helicopters of the defence forces have been deployed in the state.
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