By IANS,
Shillong : Indian Air Force helicopters Friday airdropped food packets to thousands of marooned people in the East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China.
People residing in the East Kameng district were cut-off from the mainland due to disruption in road communication after landslides that followed incessant rains in the region.
“We have airdropped emergency rations in several areas where people were facing critical shortages of food supplies in the district,” IAF spokesman Ranjeeb Sahoo said.
The Arunachal Pradesh government had requisitioned IAF helicopters to drop emergency rations at Seppa, Chyangtajo, Bameng and Khanewa where people faced critical shortage of food supplies.
Sahoo said IAF helicopters from units under the Eastern Air Command were activated from Tezpur, Guwahati, Kumbhigram and Mohanbari to undertake the mission.
Relief operations continue in full swing and about five tonnes of supplies have been air lifted to the affected areas so far, he said.
The IAF official said further sorties have been planned and would continue till the crisis in the affected areas are overcome and, subject to weather, more helicopters will be pressed into service.