UDHAMPUR: Immediately within 04 hours of the tremours of the earthquake, one C-130J Hercules, a heavy lift aircraft of Indian Air Force with 39 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel and 3.5 tones of load was the first aircraft to take off and land in Kathmandu, yesterday. This was followed by two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, also heavy lift aircraft, one carrying 96 NDRF personnel with 15 tones of load, another C-17 aircraft carrying Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT) with 24 officers and Paramedics on board. This was also followed by an IL-76 aircraft from Bathinda having 160 NDRF personnel, 05 sniffer dogs and 28 tones of load. A total of 546 personnel have been rescued so far in the day and night long operations from the earthquake hit Nepal.
Today, 10 fixed wing transport aircraft from the IAF from various parts of India carrying water, Engineering Task Force, Field Hospitals, 8000 thousand blankets, 500 tents, 14 tones of food (noodles), 34 Paramedics, 100 stretches, 1 tone of medicine, 6 tones of prepared food and 3 more field hospitals and NDRF team have been routed. In addition, 6 Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) are also tasked to carry out casualty evacuation and rescue & relief measures.