relief operations
ISLAMABAD: An Indian Air Force Mi-17 medium-lift helicopter became stuck insoft ground on Thursday after the crew mistakenly landed at an unsurveyedlocation while conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR) operations in southern Sri Lanka. The incident occurred amid ongoingmultinational efforts to deliver aid following severe flooding that hasdisplaced thousands in the island nation.
Military sources confirmed that the helicopter, carrying relief suppliesand personnel, touched down on what appeared to be firm terrain near theflood-affected town of Matara. However, the ground proved to be waterloggedmud concealed beneath vegetation, causing the aircraft to sink up to itswheel hubs shortly after landing. No injuries were reported among the crewor passengers.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo stated that recovery operations wereimmediately initiated with assistance from the Sri Lankan Air Force andlocal authorities. Specialist engineering teams were deployed to constructa temporary hard standing using metal plates and gravel before attemptingextraction. The helicopter remained operational but immobilised for severalhours, delaying subsequent relief flights.
Photographs circulating on verified defence accounts showed the distinctiveolive-green Mi-17 tilted slightly forward, surrounded by Sri Lankanmilitary personnel and local volunteers working to free the aircraft. Theincident has drawn attention to the challenges of operating in disasterzones where landing zones are often improvised and lack properreconnaissance.
India has deployed multiple aircraft, including C-130J transports and Mi-17helicopters, as part of Operation Karuna to support Sri Lanka’s floodresponse. The current deployment marks the third major HADR missionundertaken by Indian forces in Sri Lanka since 2017, reflecting deepeningdefence cooperation between the two nations.
Defence analysts noted that while such incidents are not uncommon duringrapid-response operations in adverse terrain, the public nature of thismishap may prove embarrassing for the Indian Air Force, which prides itselfon its HADR capabilities across the region. Similar episodes involvingmilitary helicopters becoming bogged have occurred during relief operationsin Nepal and the Maldives in previous years.
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The stranded helicopter was eventually extracted late Thursday eveningusing a combination of local heavy machinery and winching equipmentprovided by the Sri Lankan military. Operations resumed normally on Fridaymorning, with Indian authorities emphasising that the incident caused onlyminimal disruption to the overall relief effort.
Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-mi-17-helicopter-stuck-in-mud-in-sri-lanka/article68934721.ece
Tags: India, Sri Lanka, Mi-17, Indian Air Force, HADR, Matara
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