Stepping up efforts to help Nepal which was struck by severe earthquakes, the IAF is providing relief to the people in distress in Nepal under Operation Maitri. Since 25 April 2015, the IAF has airlifted a total of 2865 persons, flying a total of 36 fixed wing sorties by C-17 Globemaster III, IL-76, C130J Super Hercules and AN-32 aircraft landing a total of 238.5 Tonnes of relief material and equipment.
A total of 8 IAF Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) are positioned in Nepal out of which 06 are at Kathmandu and 02 at Pokhra which are doing extensive rescue and relief operations. A total of 250 casualties have been evacuated by the helicopters providing 25 tonnes of relief material, 100 people have been inducted (medial and engineering team along with the Nepalese Army) and 350 evacuated to safer places.
It would be pertinent to note that transport and helicopter aircraft are being utilised extensively for Human Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The Indian Air Force, after proving its mettle in bringing succor to scores of people after Yemen evacuation this month, Jammu & Kashmir in September last year, has once again risen to the occasion and added a pioneering chapter in Disaster Relief by bringing relief to stranded people and evacuate them from earthquake hit areas in Nepal. The Indian Air Force reaffirms its commitment towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations in support of the nation.
