Srinagar, Apr 02: Five Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters, including the new US-made Chinook, participated in an overnight drill practice for emergency landings along the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.
IAF officials informed Rising Kashmir that two large US-made Chinook helicopters, one Russian-made Mi-17, and two smaller Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of IAF landed on a stretch at Bijbehara as part of the practice to prepare for emergencies.
“The entire exercise was finished by 2:50 am. During the drill, the helicopters landed on the stretch and practiced picking up troops from the ground. The entire exercise went smoothly without any issues,” said an official.
Describing the capabilities of the helicopters, the official mentioned that Chinook helicopters are known for their speed, flying up to 310 kilometers per hour, and carrying heavy loads, including over 33 fully-equipped soldiers or functioning as flying hospitals with room for 24 stretchers.
Mi-17 helicopters, on the other hand, can carry up to 35 troops, while the ALH, manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), serves as a useful utility aircraft often employed for evacuating injured individuals.
Highlighting the role of these helicopters in disaster response, the official noted their involvement in rescue missions during natural calamities such as floods or earthquakes.
In 2020, the IAF initiated the construction of a runway adjacent to National Highway 44 in Bijbehara, Anantnag district, South Kashmir, to facilitate emergency landings for IAF aircraft. This project, undertaken jointly with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, aimed to create Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs) at strategic locations across the country.
With ELFs operational in states like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and now Jammu and Kashmir, these special landing spots serve to enhance emergency response capabilities in various regions of India.
