https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Operation_RahatOperation Rahat - Revision history2026-09-06T19:33:54ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Rahat&diff=363226&oldid=prevBot: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.2021-05-02T23:05:42Z<p>robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my <a href="/wiki/User_talk:Bot" title="User talk:Bot">talk page</a>.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{For|the operation to evacuate Indian citizens from Yemen during the [[Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)|Yemeni Crisis]]|Operation Raahat}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}<br />
'''Operation Rahat''' ({{lang-hi|राहत}} ''Rāhat'', lit. "Relief") was the name given to the [[Indian Air Force]]'s rescue operations to evacuate civilians affected by the [[2013 North India floods]]. Thousands of pilgrims in transit in the hill states of [[Uttarakhand]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]] were stranded in various valleys. It was one of the largest operations of the Indian Armed Forces in several decades.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96637|title=Armed Forces Mount Massive Relief Operations in Uttarakhand and Himachal|work=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date=19 June 2022}}</ref> and IAF claims it to be the biggest civilian rescue operation in the world carried out by any air force using helicopters.<ref name="TOI1">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/interviews/Rahat-is-the-biggest-rescue-operation-by-air-force-helicopters-Rajesh-Isser/articleshow/20916833.cms |title=Rahat is the biggest rescue operation by air force helicopters: Rajesh Isser|work=The Times of India|access-date= 5 July 2013|date=5 July 2022}}</ref> During the first phase of the operation From 17 June 2013, the IAF [[airlift]]ed a total of 19,600 people - flying a total of 2,140 [[sortie]]s and dropping/landing a total of 3,82,400&nbsp;kg of relief material and equipment.<ref name="TH1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/iaf-now-gearing-up-to-rebuild-uttarakhand/article4883035.ece|title=IAF now gearing up to rebuild Uttarakhand|work=The Times of India|access-date= 5 July 2013|date=5 July 2022}}</ref> Air Vice Marshal (then) [[S R K Nair|SRK Nair]] was the IAF coordinator on ground at Uttarakhand.<br />
<br />
On 16 June, following [[flash flood]]s due to heavy rains, assistance was sought from the IAF for rescue operations. The [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]] (WAC) responded to the requests and undertook simultaneous tasks in the sectors of Yamunanagar, [[Kedarnath]]-[[Badrinath]] axis, [[Rudraprayag]] valley and the Karcham- Puh axis. Air Commodore Rajesh Isser was appointed Task Force Commander of Operation Rahat.<ref name= "TOI1"/><br />
<br />
The [[Sarsawa Air Force Station]] was made the hub centre with helicopters converging from the [[Bathinda Airport|Bhatinda]] and [[Hindon Air Force Station|Hindon]] air force bases. A number of helicopters including the newly inducted [[Mil Mi-17]] V5 were positioned on 17 June at [[Jolly Grant Airport]] at [[Dehradun]] despite inclement weather. On 17 June, a total of 36 persons were evacuated from [[Karnal]] by a Mi-17.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96598|title=Operation 'Rahat' Launched by the IAF|work=Press Information Bureau|date=18 June 2022}}</ref><br />
<br />
By 19 June, the IAF had deployed 20 aircraft including 8 Mi-17 helicopters, 10 [[Advanced Light Helicopter]]s (ALH), One [[An-32]] transport aircraft and one [[HS-748]] Transport aircraft to carry out constant missions. IAF operations covered Phata, [[Guptakashi]], [[Gaurikund]], Kedarnath in Dehradun and Rampur, Karcham, Reckong Peo, [[Sangla, India|Sangla]] in Himachal. The ALH were positioned at Pithoragarh sector for the rescue and food packet drop effort. Four ALH helicopters of the [[Sarang display team]] were also deployed for relief operations.<br />
<br />
The second phase of the operation entailing support of long-term rehabilitation efforts in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand started on 5 July 2013.<ref name="TH1"/><br />
<br />
== Aircraft used ==<br />
[[File:The Army and the Air Force mounted massive rescue and relief operations in the flood and landslide affected areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.jpg|thumb|Loading a helicopter]]<br />
43 aircraft's were used in the operation Rahat:<br />
<br />
*23 - Mi 17 medium twin-turbine transport helicopters.<br />
*11 - HAL Dhruv, indigenous light utility helicopters<br />
*1 - [[Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama|Cheetah]] single-engined Helicopter<br />
*1 - [[Mil Mi-26]] heavy transport helicopter<br />
*2 - C130J military transport aircraft<br />
*3 - AN 32s transport aircraft<br />
*1 - HS-748 transport aircraft<br />
*1 - [[IL-76]] heavy transport aircraft<br />
<br />
The IAF activated its advanced landing grounds in [[Gochar|Gauchar]] and [[Dharasu]] in Uttarakhand to establish an air bridge for chopper movement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96696 |title=Armed Forces Continues Rescue and Relief Operations on a War Footing |work=Press Information Bureau|date=21 June 2022}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Helicopter Crash ==<br />
On 25 June, a Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed North of Gaurikund.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96771|title=IAF Mi- 17 V 5 Helicopter Crash |work=Press Information Bureau|date=25 June 2022}}</ref> All 20 persons on board, including 5 Air Force Officers, 9 NDRF personnel and 6 ITBP personnel, were dead.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-make-sure-job-is-done-air-chief-nak-browne-to-ndtv-384408| title=Will make sure job is done: Air Chief NAK Browne to NDTV | date=2013-06-26 | access-date=2013-06-26}}</ref><ref name=twenty>{{cite news|title=Uttarakhand floods: Bodies of chopper crash victims recovered|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2013/jun/260613-uttarakhand-floods-bodies-of-chopper-crash-victims-recovered.htm|access-date=26 June 2013|newspaper=Mid-day|date=26 June 2022}}</ref> The deceased soldiers were given a ceremonial [[Guard of honour]] by Home minister [[Sushilkumar Shinde]] at a function organised by the Uttarakhand State Government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bravehearts-who-died-in-uttarakhand-chopper-crash-given-guard-of-honour-385446|title=Bravehearts who died in Uttarakhand chopper crash given Guard of Honour|work= [[NDTV]]|date=28 June 2022}}</ref> Air Chief Marshal [[Norman Anil Kumar Browne|N A K Browne]], Chief of the Air Staff said "We owe it to the lives our people whom we have lost, that we sustain the mission and complete it successfully". The IAF continued to operate from Dharasu and Pithoragarh detachments flying six Mi-17 V5s, two ALH and one Mi17 from Harsil - Maneri - Dharasu and Darchula - Milam & Kali - Ramganga river axes.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
[[Operation Surya Hope]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]<br />
[[Category:Non-combat military operations involving India]]<br />
[[Category:2013 in India]]<br />
[[Category:Humanitarian military operations]]<br />
[[Category:History of Uttarakhand (1947–present)]]</div>Bot