The Indian Air Force is conducting extensive air-lift and airdrop operations to deliver relief materials to flood-affected areas across Assam.

These operations are critical as unprecedented flooding has cut off access to low-lying regions, leaving thousands of residents without food or medical supplies. The scale of the disaster has necessitated military intervention to reach isolated populations.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the IAF helicopters are being used extensively to airlift and airdrop relief material to the affected areas [1]. The efforts are focused on several flood-hit districts, including Dhemaji, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh [2].

The crisis has seen more than 45,000 people displaced [3] and 96 villages submerged [3]. Because of the depth of the water and the loss of road connectivity, air-based delivery is the primary method for providing immediate support.

Home Minister Amit Shah said the IAF is rescuing stranded people and conducting airdrops in the flood-hit regions of the Northeast [4]. The federal government has assured continued assistance as the state manages the displaced population.

Sarma met with officials in New Delhi earlier this month to coordinate the long-term recovery process. He said they discussed flood rehabilitation and the crucial role of the IAF in relief operations [5]. The state government plans to implement larger, targeted drops to ensure that the most remote villages receive adequate supplies.

While the air operations provide a temporary lifeline, the disruption of infrastructure remains a significant hurdle. Train services in Dhemaji have been affected, further complicating the movement of ground-based relief teams [6].

“The IAF helicopters are being used extensively to airlift and airdrop relief material to the affected areas.”

The reliance on the Indian Air Force for basic relief delivery underscores the vulnerability of Assam's infrastructure to extreme weather events. By utilizing military assets for civilian disaster management, the government is attempting to mitigate the immediate risk of starvation and disease in isolated districts, though the focus on 'rehabilitation' suggests a shift toward addressing systemic drainage and embankment failures.