Cyclone Fani: IAF deploys three C130J Super Hercules aircrafts for relief mission

Kolkata: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched three C130J Super Hercules aircrafts for relief missions of Cyclone Fani in Odisha. The first of the three will land at Bhubaneswar at around 9 pm on Saturday.

Eastern Air Command spokesperson Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, "In the quick response towards Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR), in the wake of Cyclone Fani, IAF has launched three C-130Js Super Hercules aircraft to Bhubaneswar."

He elaborated, "The aircrafts will carry around 45 tonnes of relief material including medicines for the cyclone hit locations. The aircrafts were positioned at Hindan airbase and crew were on standby for relief mission subject to request from the ministry of health and possibility of air operations at possible at cyclone-hit areas."

Wg Cdr Singh added, "The crew will also set up a contingency response group at Bhubaneswar for controlling ground operations. The first three aircrafts are being led by Group Captain A Verma, Wg Cdr H R Bhatt and Wg Cdr R Nanda."

Meanwhile, a medium-lift helicopter: Mi17-V5 has landed at Bhubaneswar for disaster relief. It took off from Guwahati airbase in Assam. Besides an AN 32 aircraft carrying two specialist engineers from Kolkata with repair equipment for restoring water supply in Bhubaneswar has left for the city.

Five Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGS) with two helicopters and relief supplies have been deployed off Odisha and West Bengal coasts. Simultaneously the ships are undertaking reconnaissance off the coasts of the two states to locate any marooned fishing boats.

Presently no boar or vessel has reported any distress. Aerial surveillance by the ICG Dornier aircraft is underway along the coast to assess the damage caused by the cyclone, according to a statement by the ICG (North East Region).