Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar reviews the
search operation for the missing Air Force aircraft AN-32 who was accompanied
by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff, and Vice Admiral HCS
Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command.
All
of them undertook a sortie today from Naval Air Station Rajali at Arakkonam
onboard an Indian Naval P-8I Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft for reviewing the
Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for the missing AN-32 aircraft of the IAF.
During the sortie that lasted nearly two haurs, he witnessed coordinated efforts
involving ships and aircraft, including helicopter operations from the Navy’s
LPD INS Jalashwa.
He
directed that maximum resources be pressed into service so as to undertake
effective SAR. He was briefed about the challenges of undertaking SAR under monsoon
conditions with heavy rain, cloud cover, rough sea condition and most
importantly depths of over 3500 metres in the area. He was also briefed about
future plans involving additional ships and a submarine that were heading for
the area to join in the SAR operations.
Apart
from aspects related to the optimum deployment of resources for SAR operations,
the Defence Minister enquired about the families of missing Service and
civilian personnel. He was assured that constant liaison was being maintained
with all families, and that all possible help was being rendered to them.
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