By IANS,
Shillong : The Indian Air Force (IAF) Tuesday pressed four Mi-17 helicopters for relief and rescue operations in quake-hit Sikkim, an officer said.
The choppers made eight sorties from the IAF station in Bagdogra in north Bengal, Ranjeeb Sahoo, IAF spokesman at the Eastern Air Command headquarters here, told IANS.
“Ten tonnes of relief material, including medicines, were airlifted, along with 30 army personnel. The helicopters are carrying out airdrop of food items at some places,” he added.
Sahoo said 31 people were evacuated from different places.
More than 5,000 army and paramilitary troopers and police personnel are engaged in a massive rescue and relief operation, with more than half of them in the worst-hit north Sikkim areas.
Authorities opened at least 100 relief camps to provide food and medicines to those whose homes are damaged or destroyed.
Sunday’s quake rocked large parts of India, from New Delhi to Mizoram. It also shook Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh.