Srinagar, Apr 2 (PTI) The Indian Air Force's Chinook, Mi-17 and ALH helicopters landed on a stretch of the national highway linking Kashmir with the rest of the country as part of an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) drill, the first such exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.
According to officials, two US-manufactured Chinook, one Russian-made Mi-17 and two Advance Light helicopters (ALH) landed on the Wanpoh-Sangam stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the early hours of Tuesday.
Work on the 3.5-km emergency landing strip was started in 2020 and completed late last year as part of a programme initiated by the IAF along with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the creation of ELFs at different locations across the country.
Chinook helicopters, which have a top speed of 310 kmph and a travel range of 741 km, are used for heavy lifting and the main cabin can hold over 33 fully-equipped troops. It can also be used for medical evacuation and has space for 24 stretchers.
The Mi-17 helicopters can accommodate up to 35 troops.
Both these helicopters have been pressed into relief and rescue operations during natural disasters.
The ELF drill is to showcase the synergy and liaison between civil agencies, such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), district administration and state police, and the air force towards the conduct of complex multi-faceted activities.
After this exercise, Jammu and Kashmir will be the first Union Territory to have operationalised an ELF. Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the three states where ELFs are currently operational. PTI SKL NSD NSD
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