IAF transports bridging equipment to Leh

CHANDIGARH - The Indian Air Force (IAF), from its Chandigarh base, has started transporting bridging equipment to install temporary bridges in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town.

Leh town was destroyed by massive flash floods triggered by a cloudburst on the night of Aug 5. At least 185 people were killed in the disaster.

“The IAF has got the responsibility to supply 190 tonnes of bridging equipment to Leh. We are getting them from Pathankot town,” said Air Commodore Rajeev Sachdeva, AOC (air office commanding) 12 Wing, while addressing reporters here Friday.

“These bridges will be temporary structures that are usually used during wartime. However, it will certainly take a very long time to re-establish the old infrastructure in Leh,” he added.

Usually, two to three IAF aircraft fly on a single day to Ladakh region from Chandigarh but since Aug 7 six to seven flights are going there everyday.

Talking about other relief measures undertaken by the IAF, Sachdeva said: “So far, we have transported 270 tonnes of relief material to Leh, which included JCBs, dozers, cranes, blankets and sniffer dogs. One doctor and medical installations from PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) were also sent,” Sachdeva said.

“The priority is to restore the communications network. Seventy tonnes of BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) equipment have also been sent,” he added.

According to the IAF officials, so far they have transported five JCBs, one crane and eight dozers to Leh.

Talking about the hurdles faced by the IAF in transportation, Sachdeva said: “There were no hurdles except for the poor weather conditions but now it is ok. Going down to the runway in cloudy conditions is the most difficult task. We start working at 3 a.m.”