New Delhi: The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has directed the three Services-Army, Air Force and the Navy to be in full readiness to provide all support in view of the impending cyclone, Phailin, forecast to hit the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast Saturday evening. Ministry of Defence has received requests from the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments for rescue and relief operations including the air support in the aftermath of the approaching Cyclone. Shri Antony discussed the issue with the Defence Secretary Shri RK Mathur this morning.
Two IAF IL-76 have been despatched this morning with NDRF teams and equipment to Bhubneshwar. Other IAF assets are on stand-by at various bases including- Raipur, Nagpur, Jagdalpur, Barrackpore, Ranchi and Gwalior. IAF has committed two C130J Super Hercules aircraft, 18 helicopters, including Mi -17V5 and two AN-32s to the effort and the aircraft are already positioned to move at short notice. IAF is fully geared up to assist the state administration and has tasked its Eastern Air Command to coordinate the entire relief operation with a Task Force being positioned at Barrackpore.
