The IAF has declared an all-out war against the second wave of Covid-19, with the Chief of Air Staff, RKS Bhadauria on Wednesday reassuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the aviators were fully geared for round the clock operations.
Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria stressed during the conversation that the entire heavy lift fleet and substantial numbers of the medium lift planes were available to work along a hub and spoke model to rapidly meet all Covid related task within and outside India’s national boundaries.
According to a press statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) the Air Chief asserted that the IAF is deploying big as well as medium sized aircrafts to cover all terrains. A dedicated Covid Air Support Cell had been set up by the IAF to ensure faster co-ordination with different ministries and agencies.
The IAF has been pressed into service for transporting medical personnel, critical equipment and medicines to Covid-19 hospitals and facilities across the country.
India is facing a massive shortage of medical-grade oxygen and several hospitals.
Taking to Twitter, the IAF said: “The IAF transport fleet is supporting the fight against Covid-19. Air lift of medical personnel, critical equipment and medicines is underway for Covid Hospitals and facilities across the country.”
This includes importing oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany to cater to the shortage, military hospitals’ infrastructure being ramped up to handle the mounting cases, doctors and medical staff of the forces being deployed to cities reporting a surge in cases and oxygen cylinders and essential medicines being transported to Delhi, which is reeling under a massive shortage of these essential items.
IAF is playing a big role by carrying out sorties from various parts of the country to airlift oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicines, equipment required for setting up and sustaining Covid hospitals and facilities.
The IAF transport aircraft and helicopters engaged in anti-Covid operations include C-17, C-130J, IL-76, An-32 and Avro transport planes. Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are on standby. Tasks undertaken include airlift of doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag and Bangalore for various hospitals at Delhi.
The C-17 and IL-76 aircraft of IAF are airlifting big empty oxygen tankers from their place of use to the filling stations across the country to speed up the distribution of much needed oxygen.
It may be recalled that in the initial days of COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the IAF ran several sorties to deliver medicines, medical and other essential supplies required to combat the coronavirus pandemic as well as bring back stranded Indian nationals from abroad.
“As the nation takes big strides in its fight to contain and defeat the contagion, IAF reaffirms its commitment to meet all emerging needs in a professional manner,” said the Defence Ministry.
