Sikkim landslide, in a major relief effort, IAF airlifted 1,300 kg of aid to landslide-hit Chaten, North Sikkim. Over 1,600 tourists have been rescued as joint operations continue amid heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Representational Image. File Pic
As part of the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the landslide-hit Chetan, a total of 1300 kg of relief material was airlifted to the North Sikkim area on Saturday morning, an official statement from the Sikkim Government stated.
According to the statement, the first helicopter sortie of the day took off from Pakyong Greenfield Airport, carrying essential supplies and five officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
"Marking an important step in the ongoing relief efforts, in the first sortie of the day, IAF's MI-17 helicopter departed from Pakyong Greenfield Airport, transporting essential supplies to Chaten," the Information and Public Relations Department of Sikkim said.
"The helicopter is carrying 1300 kg of relief materials and five officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department," the department added.
Furthermore, officials also stated that the same aircraft will also be used to transport army personnel from Chaten to Pakyong Greenfield Airport.
Earlier on Friday, in a major relief operation, all stranded tourists were successfully evacuated from Chaten, which is one of the worst-hit areas in North Sikkim following recent landslides and flash floods.
DC Anant Jain praised the joint efforts of the district administration, military, paramilitary forces, and local communities for their swift and coordinated response. While acknowledging these efforts, he stated, "Our priority was to ensure the safety of every stranded individual. We thank the Indian Air Force and all ground teams for their relentless service."
Amid the calamity in the North-East region, the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters airlifted the remaining 63 tourists from Chaten in the final phase of the operation on Thursday, with follow-up sorties resuming on Friday morning as weather conditions improved.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local administration.
Earlier this week, more than 1,600 tourists were rescued by road from the Lachung and Lachen valleys in a ground operation led by DC Jain. The passengers, many of whom were children and elderly, were safely led across difficult terrain and sporadic weather disruptions. Several days of heavy rainfall triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and rockfalls in many parts of the state.
(With ANI Inputs)
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