IAF operates special aircraft IL-76 to airlift 233 stranded passengers from Udhampur to Leh

NewsBharati    20-Feb-2018
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Jammu, February 20: The Indian Air Force on Monday airlifted 233 stranded civilians from Udhampur to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir usually brings smile and joy for the tourists but often create problems too.

 

As many as 233 stranded civilians were airlifted by the sorties of Indian Air Force from Udhampur to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to recent snow and bad weather in the Leh-Kargil sector lot of civilians were stranded in Jammu region.

The Indian Air Forces operated its special aircraft IL-76 popularly called as Gajraj to airlift civilians on requisition by Jammu and Kashmir government. Air Force Station Udhampur was the staging base for this rescue activity. Special arrangements were made by Air Force Station Udhampur for Security and Marshalling of civilians which included Ladies and Children also, into the technical area.

Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said that Air Force Station Udhampur was the staging base for this rescue activity. “The officers were liaisoning for arrival details of the IL-76 so that no inconvenience is caused to the passengers and re-scheduling of the entire exercise was expeditiously passed on to the passengers to avoid miscommunication,” he added.