THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian Air Force on Tuesday said along with Navy and Coast Guard it was continuing humanitarian assistance and search and rescue operations for the 13th day after Cyclone Ockhi. It said the Navy rescued 139 fishermen and assisted 180, Air Force 17 and assisted 53 and Coast Guard rescued or assisted 405. IAF deployed three helicopters (two Mi17, one ALH), three AN-32 and a C-130J aircraft. Together they rescued 53 men and brought them to the IAF technical area.
One dead body has been brought here by naval helicopter. Total sorties carried out by the IAF were 44, covering 1,74,460 sq.km up to 270 km south of Trivandrum and the north of Mangalore, Karnataka, and towards west up to Agati in Lakshadweep. The combined forces will continue their operations codenamed OP Sahayam till the last fisherman is accounted.
