- By Aditya Jha
- Wed, 02 Oct 2024 06:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
An Indian Air Force advanced light helicopter made an emergency landing in Sitamarhi district of Bihar during flood relief operations. Authorities have informed that all four personnel, including two pilots, were not harmed in the incident. IAF further said that the landing was executed because of the technical issues. “All crew are reported to be safe, with no damage to civilian life or property reported,” said the IAF in a post on X.
IAF has ordered an inquiry to get the further details in the landing. Rakesh Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, said that the helicopter was returning from Darbhanga after airdropping relief supplies. "The helicopter made an emergency landing in a water-logged area in Aurai block. All the occupants were IAF personnel and they were pulled out by locals by the time officials reached the spot," he said, as per PTI.
District magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen has further informed that all four occupants appear safe. He said, "All four occupants appear safe and unharmed. However, as a precaution, they are being taken to a local hospital for check-up and treatment, if required." Locals rushed to the spot of the incident to support the rescue as the video of the landing went viral on social media. Large areas of land are underwater near the Nepal border due to the water released from a barrage on the border. Many districts of Bihar got flooded along the rivers Gandak and Kosi in recent days.
The disaster management department has informed that the flood has affected 368 panchayats in 78 blocks of 16 districts, and almost 11.8 lakh people are facing hardship because of the floods. The department further reported that Indian Air Force helicopters are actively helping people in Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts. Helicopters have airdropped food packets and other relief materials, benefiting over 200,000 people.