Indian Air Force began retrieval of helicopter from floodwater.
Patna October 14, 2024: The Indian Air Force (IAF) team has started the retrieval of a helicopter that made an emergency landing in Muzaffarpur amid severe flooding in North Bihar.
On October 2, 2024, one of the IAF helicopters, engaged in flood relief operations, encountered technical difficulties and was forced to land in the floodwaters of Madhuban Basi village in Aurai block.
Indian Air Force was on a flood relief mission.
At the time, the IAF was carrying out relief operations in districts like Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Gopalgang, Muzaffarpur, Supaul, Sheohar, Madhubani and Araria on the orders of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide aid to flood–affected areas.
After delivering food packets in Darbhanga on October 2, 2024, the helicopter faced a technical glitch mid-air, and the pilot skillfully performed an emergency landing in the middle of the floodwaters. Fortunately, the four IAF personnel on board were unharmed and were safely rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Indian Air Force retrieval mission started:
Due to the high water levels at the time, the helicopter could not be immediately retrieved. However, with the water receding over the past few days, an Indian Air Force team arrived in Muzaffarpur’s Madhuban Basi village on Sunday evening. The officials assessed the situation and gathered detailed information about the area’s flood status, geographical locations and muddy zones.
The retrieval process began on Monday, with specialized equipment and trucks being deployed to lift the helicopter.
The local authorities including the Aurai police, confirmed that the Indian Air Force team is actively working on retrieving the helicopter.
The SHO of Aurai police station mentioned, “The helicopter had initially landed in an area with significant floodwater, making it difficult to retrieve earlier. However, with the water reduced, the IAF team is actively working to remove the helicopter from the site.”
The officer expected that the operation would be completed in the coming days.
The successful retrieval of the helicopter will mark the conclusion of the challenging mission that the IAF and SDRF have been handling since the flood relief operation began.
Also Read: Indian Air Force helicopter took a precautionary landing in Muzaffarpur.
EOM.