IAF winds up relief work

After seven days of relief and rescue operations,the Indian Air Force said it has wound up its operations in the state. A day after the cyclone hit the state on May 25,two IAF helicopters were pressed into service to assist in taking aid to areas that became inaccessible due to devastation caused by the cyclone.

The IAF’s two Mi-17 choppers from the Eastern Air Command airbase in Barrackpore made 36 sorties in 50 hours. The helicopters were used for airlifting affected people and airdropping food supplies,medicines and water to the affected areas. The IAF said in a press release that 71.64 tonnes of relief material was airlifted to different relief camps and 25 people were transported to safer places.

The cyclone initially rocked south Bengal before moving down to north Bengal,causing landslides and affecting lakhs of people.