Indian Air Force gear up to brace Cyclone 'Yaas'

NEW DELHI:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is airlifting 21 tons of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) equipment and 334 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Patna and Varanasi to Kolkata, and from Arakkonam to Port Blair, utilising 5 C-130 aircraft in preparation for the approaching Cyclone Yaas.

The IAF operations to strengthen the eastern coastal areas with manpower and equipment ahead of the cyclone is going on since May 21.

The Air Force to date has airlifted 606 personnel and 57T load of NDRF for this purpose.

Cyclone Yaas is expected to make landfall in West Bengal and the adjoining Odisha coast on Wednesday (May 26 2021), and the defence forces have been kept on alert for any kind of eventuality.

The IAF has kept 1 C-17, 1 IL-76, 3 C-130s, 4 An-32s and 2 Dornier transport aircraft in readiness for the HADR task. Additionally, 11 Mi-17V5s, 2 Chetaks, 3 Cheetahs, 2 ALH Dhruvs and 7 Mi17 helicopters are also on alert for any eventuality.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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