PAKYONG: As part of the ongoing evacuation efforts in response to the recent disaster in North Sikkim, the first helicopter sortie of the day took off early this morning from Pakyong Greenfield Airport towards Chaten to rescue stranded tourists, according to an official statement.
The Mi-17 helicopters are carrying essential supplies for Army personnel stationed in and around the Chaten area.
The operation is being carried out to ensure timely support to both stranded civilians and defence personnel. On their return trip, the helicopters will evacuate individuals who are stranded in Chaten.
Evacuation and relief work will continue depending on weather conditions and operational feasibility.
According to the official statement on Thursday, the aircraft comprises nine personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with their equipment, to provide support for ongoing disaster relief. Likewise, a team from the Power Department, Government of Sikkim, and Airtel’s telecommunication services is also being airlifted.
They are on a mission to restore essential services, including telecommunications and electricity, using satellite-based technologies and portable backup batteries in areas rendered inaccessible by road.
As per the official statement on Thursday, a team of police personnel from the communication branch with essential equipment are also proceeding towards the affected areas to bridge the gap between isolation and service and restore normalcy in the lives of those affected.
Due to the persistent bad weather in the region, helicopter sorties from Pakyong Greenfield Airport were temporarily suspended, which delayed further evacuations. However, as the weather conditions improved, a mission was carried out with the deployment of two helicopters to assist in evacuating tourists stranded in Lachen. (ANI)
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