New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): Rescue and relief operations by the Indian forces in quake- hit Nepal continued on Friday, with Indian Air Force (IAF) planes carrying out 38 sorties and transporting nearly 20 tonnes of relief material on Friday.
The IAF evacuated 85 people on Friday.
At present, six IAF Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) are positioned at Kathmandu, while one MLH is positioned at Pokhara.
The most affected areas where casualty evacuations were carried in the past few days are Chautara, Charkot, Dhading, Melum, Lukla, Aroghat, Dhunche, Trishuli, Ramchap, Barpak, Narayan Chor, Namchi Bazar and Tatopani.
Officials from the IAF said transport and helicopter aircraft are being utilised extensively for Human Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Since April 25, when the first quake hit the Himalayan nation, 986 sorties have been carried by IAF.
Over 3,162 people have been evacuated by the IAF choppers.