IAF jet airlifts fuel tanker to Manipur amid crisis
The Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft on Monday airlifted 96,000 litres of fuel to the crisis-stricken Manipur. As per reports, 70 tonne more petroleum products will be sent soon in the poll-bound state. Since November 1, the United Naga Council has imposed the economic blockade on NH2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur.
With less than two days' fuel left in pollbound Manipur, the Centre deployed the mighty C-17 Globemaster, the Indian Air Force's largest military transport aircraft, to airlift 96,000 litres of fuel. This happened after Indian Oil Corporation made a formal "urgent" request to the IAF, requesting an airlift, from Guwahati's Borjhar Air Force station to Imphal.Official sources confirmed that since Sunday, three sorties have been made. An emergency measure taken to mitigate the impact of the fuel crisis triggered by the indefinite economic blockade by United Naga Council, which has been raging on for the past 84 days.While 35 tonne petroleum and diesel were sent through an Indian Airforce C-17 Globemaster plane, 70 tonne more petroleum products will be sent soon, official sources said. The move came two days after an interministerial meeting, chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reviewed the stock of food grains and petroleum products in Manipur and how to replenish the supply.Pradhan Monday met Singh and briefed him about the supply position. The central government has informed the Election Commission about the move as assembly election is due in Manipur on March 4 and 8.Also read | IAF's Garud commandos to be equipped with new arms and bullet proof jacketsPrices of all commodities, especially food grains, have skyrocketed while petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders are being sold at high prices in black markets, raising serious concerns in the central government, they said.