IAF aircraft carrying relief material reaches Leh

CHANDIGARH - An Indian Air Force aircraft carrying relief material from Chandigarh Saturday made a safe landing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town that was lashed by massive flash floods triggered by a cloudburst.

“Indian Air Force’s IL-76 plane has reached Leh. Earlier in the morning, we had sent a flight to Leh but it could not land due to poor conditions and returned. We have sent relief material, including packed food articles, medicines, clothes and blankets for the victims,” Pavitar Singh, defence spokesperson here, told IANS Saturday.

“Rescue work is on full swing and Indian Army officials are working day and night. So far, we have no news about bringing the injured to Chandigarh. However, we have made full preparations for that,” stated Singh.

At least 115 people were killed and over 300 injured in the floods. Besides nearly 100 others, including 25 army soldiers, are missing in the unprecedented cloudburst that hit the town early Friday.

Earlier, no Indian Air Force flight could land in Ladakh as the runway of Leh airport was inundated by flood waters.