IAF chief to visit Srinagar tomorrow

IAF Chief Arup Raha will review here tomorrow the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir where over 80 transport aircraft and helicopters have been deployed by the forces.
Raha will visit the flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley soon after returning from his four-day visit to the UK, an IAF spokesperson said.
Over 80 transport aircraft and helicopters of the Air Force and Army are engaged in rescue and relief operations.
So far, 2,527 sorties have been undertaken by IAF choppers and aircraft and 3,673 tonne of relief materials airdropped.
The force had also deployed its Garud commandos to carry out relief operations but the winching operations had to be stopped in view of stone-pelting from ground on its choppers.

Along with the Air Force, Army has deployed around 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.
The IAF has deployed its fleet of five C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 strategic airlift aircraft for evacuating stranded people.
Meanwhile, the IAF added its seventh C-17 aircraft from the US. The IAF had signed a deal for 10 such aircraft at a cost of over Rs 24,000 crore from the US about three years ago.