Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out its latest task as part of its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations by assisting the state government of Andhra Pradesh in tackling the Vizag gas leak. Two An-32 transport aircraft were used for lifting chemicals required for controlling gas leakage.
According to press release , on the request from Industries and Commerce department of the Andhra Pradesh Government , IAF airlifted 8.3 Tons of essential chemicals required to effectively control the gas leak that occurred at Styrene Monomer Storage tank in LG Polymers at Vizag, . Two An-32 transport aircraft of IAF were deployed to airlift approximately 1100 kg of Tertiary Butylcatechol and 7.2 Ton of Polymerization Inhibitors and Green Retarders from Mundra in Gujarat to Vizag . These chemicals were required to reduce the toxicity of the gas being leaked from the storage tank. The IAF also facilitated the move of officials and experts , from different locations, to oversee the operations being undertaken at gas leak site.
Air Force, from day one of ongoing COVID-19 crisis , continued to airlift essential supplies required to equip differentr state governments and supporting agencies to combat the contagion effectively. ” A total of 703 T of load has been airlifted since the time IAF began its operations to assist the government of India on 25 Mar 20. A total of 30 heavy and medium airlift assets have been earmarked by the IAF for undertaking any COVID-19 related task”, said the release.
