IAF relief plane for Katrina victims ready to go

An Indian Air Force IL-76 transporter commanded by Group Captain R Sharma is ready to leave for New Orleans with 25 tonnes of relief, including 50,000 first-aid kits, tarpaulin sheets, blankets and 25,000 cots and pillows.

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After United States gave a nod for medicines and other relief materials to be delivered, an IAF aircraft was made available to carry the materials to help Katrina victims.

The plane was ready for take off on Wednesday morning but its flight to New Orleans was put on hold as the aircraft is waiting for directions to land. At Washington-end relief material from 90 countries is being handled.

This is the first mission of its kind for the Indian Air Force that is being handled by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.

India has already donated $5 million to the US Red Cross.

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