New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a historic landing at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) of the Indian Air Force in the northeast. The aircraft, C-130J, carrying the PM landed in Assam’s Dibrugarh, where this ELF is located. PM Modi is ona day-long visit to Assam.
PM witnesses airshow in Dibrugarh
The Air Force’s ELF has been built on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh. Soon after landing, the PM was received by the Assam Governor, Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. They were also accompanied by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior government officials. The PM then driove to the venue for the airshow.
Soon after landing, the PM witnessed an air show by the IAF, organised at the newly inaugurated Emergency Landing Facility. Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter jets were part of this show. Apart from this, several aircrafts and helicopters of the IAF carried out fly-past in the presence of the PM.
IAF chief AP Singh was also present on stage with the PM. The two were seen engaged in conversations, while the aircraft performed manoeuvres in the sky.
ELF is a multi-functional runway
The ELF, which was inaugurated by the PM, has been built at a cost of Rs 100 crore. This is a 4.2 kilometre long stretch on the Moran Bypass and is expected to act as a strategic and multi-functional runway for IAF aircrafts.
The runway has been designed in a manner that it can be used both by fighter jets of the Air Force and civilian aircraft. This has basically been built as an alternative to the Dibrugarh airport and might be easily used in case of emergencies.
A huge crowd had gathered at the venue to witness this historic event. The PM was seen acknowledging the crowd at the venue.