IAF dedicates Vijaynagar ALG to people of Arunachal Pradesh
ITANAGAR | Sept 18, 2019:
Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command and Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan, GOC-in-C Eastern Command jointly inaugurated the resurfaced runway at Vijaynagar ALG in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday
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The inauguration of the ALG has re-established military transport aircraft connectivity at this Eastern most hamlet of India.
Defence sources informed that repair of the runway at Vijaynagar, which was coordinated by Air Force Station Jorhat, was a challenging task because, there being no road connectivity, all the load had to be airlifted by helicopters.
The movement of larger transport aircraft to and from this airfield will act as a catalyst for the development of the area and facilitate movement of the locals.
Several other high ranking officers of the Army and Air Force were also present on the occasion.
The airfield is important not only for the local administration in extending their reach to the residents of this remote area but also crucial from a strategic point of view.
"The ALG will assist in effective management of our borders with Myanmar and facilitate launch of joint operations by Indian Army and Air Force for the defence of the Vijaynagar salient," said Defence officials.
The Army Commander and the AOC-in-C, while interacting with the locals and ex-servicemen at Vijaynagar, commended them for their unflinching dedication to the nation and expressed the hope that air connectivity with the rest of the country would open a world of opportunities for them.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal RD Mathur, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command also visited Along in Arunachal Pradesh today to felicitate, commend and distribute the award of rupees five lakh to civilian personnel for their help in tracing the crashed AN-32 aircraft of the IAF, in a ceremony organised at Along ALG.
He also commended the five mountaineers including the team leader, Mr Taka Tamut and three village seniors from Payum, Gasheng and Gatte for providing assistance in locating the crash site and helping in recovery of the mortal remains and other equipment from the crash site.
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The Air Marshal disbursed the amount of Rupees Five Lakh to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the local administration and other civilian personnel in the search for the ill fated An-32 aircraft.
Out of this amount, Rupees 1.5 Lakh was given to Mr Tadut Tachung for providing information that helped the IAF locate the crash site.
The An-32 had crashed on 03 Jun 19 while on routine air logistics sortie from Jorhat to Menchuka Advance Landing Ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh.
The crash had resulted in the loss of life of all the 13 personnel on board. The crash site was finally spotted on 11 Jun 19 at 1300 hrs by an IAF Mi-17 helicopter.
The mortal remains were recovered to the ALG at Along by 19 Jun 19 with the assistance from the Army, the state administration and local inhabit.
