The helicopters of the Indian Air Force have undertaken 24 sorties in their Chetak and Cheetah helicopters on relief and rescue mission in the flood-affected areas of Assam since Thursday. They have dropped nearly 4,000 kilograms of food packets.

According to an official release, with large number of affected people taking shelter in small patches of high ground with their cattle and livestock, it is a crucial challenge to ensure that relief packets don't get strewn or blown away into the water during such mercy missions. The release said, water levels are now receding and drop operations by helicopters have been put on hold. The pilots, however, are on standby to face any emergency situation including casualty evacuation.