In a swift, five hour operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) activated the Dharasu Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Chinyalisaur about 30 km from the rescue site for operating two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft to fly in time-critical equipment to the closest location possible for the ongoing rescue efforts near Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. The operation was carried out on November 15.
Dharasu ALG located at Chinyalisaur, was identified as the nearest possible location for the expeditious operation. It is a short and narrow airstrip of 3,600 feet situated at an elevation of 3000 ft. The runway was originally declared unfit for the C-130J class of aircraft but given the criticality of the mission it was decided to operationalise the ALG for this operation, officials said.
“The rescue operations were halted due to failure of the equipment which was earlier utilised to create a passage. The time critical mission demanded a swift action to deliver the equipment as close as possible to the rescue location,” an IAF source said.
