New Delhi (NVI): Gearing up to meet the challenge likely to be posed by ‘Cyclone Tauktae’, the Indian Air Force has kept its men and machines on standby for any assistance to the states expected to be affected.
The cyclone is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours leading to heavy rainfall along the western coast of India in the next few days.
IAF has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters on operation readiness in peninsular India in preparation for the Cyclone Tauktae, the Defence Ministry said today in a statement.
One IL-76 aircraft has airlifted 127 personnel and 11 tonnes of cargo from Bhatinda to Jamnagar, it said in a statement.
A C-130 aircraft has airlifted 25 personnel and 12.3 tonnes cargo from Bhatinda to Rajkot. Two C-130 aircraft have airlifted 126 personnel and 14 tonnes cargo from Bhubaneswar to Jamnagar.
Additionally, IAF Covid relief operations have been focused in these coastal areas for the coming few days, as bad weather is likely to affect air operations later.
The cyclone relief operations are in addition to those underway for Covid relief, the statement read.
