IAF chief to visit Northeast, Andaman Islands

With the armed forces strengthening capabilities along the China border, IAF Chief Arup Raha will visit the North-East to review upgrade of air fields in Arunachal Pradesh and other states there.
During his five-day visit starting today, the IAF chief will also visit the Andaman and Nicobar island territories where the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command looks after operations of preventing smuggling, piracy, drug and gun trafficking, poaching and illegal immigration in this region, an IAF release said.
The IAF is strengthening its capabilities in the North East Sector by upgrading the ALGs in areas of Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro, Along as well as helipads in Arunachal Pradesh.

An empowered committee (on the north-east development) under the IAF Vice Chief is continuously monitored for up-gradation facilities, creation of new infra structure and induction of assets in the region.
Before commencing his visit, Raha said, "The success of the Indian Air Force logistics in an inaccessible terrain of the North eastern region lies in the man-mission-machine interface".
During the visit, the IAF Chief will meet the Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen MMS Rai in Kolkata and visit a helicopter unit deployed in Barrackpore "which had doused fires in Nagaland using their huge buckets," the IAF said.
He is also scheduled to visit the Sainik School in Purulia from where he did his schooling.