Bhubaneswar: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has pressed its choppers into service and deployed its personnel to assist the NDRF in the relief and rescue operations after Cyclone Yaas makes landfall in the afternoon on Wednesday.
According to reports, a C-130 and two An-32 aircraft belonging to the IAF airlifted nearly 102 passengers and 4.5 tons of cargo from Arakonnam to Kalaikunda.
Another C-130 aircraft airlifted 62 passengers and 6.8 tons of cargo from Lilabari to Kolkata, the IAF said. In addition to that, 2 IAF An-32 aircraft have been deployed for airlifting 41 passengers and 4 tons of cargo from Lilabari to Panagarh.
The IMD had earlier said that Cyclone Yaas is likely to make landfall by noon on Wednesday with a wind speed of about 130 to 155 kmph.
People in Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand woke up to strong winds and heavy rain on Wednesday morning and braced for the cyclone.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the people living in the coastal regions of Odisha to cooperate with the local administration and shift to cyclone shelters.
