Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopters carried out intensive flood relief operations in Bihar on October 2, delivering 10 tonnes of essential supplies to villages cut off by the surging Gandak river.

The aircraft from Team Silver Falchions flew from Patna and reached Chakia, Prithvipur, Satjoda, Karcholia and Maker in Saran district, the IAF’s Central Air Command said, according to Latestly.

The relief effort followed a record discharge from the Gandak Barrage, which crossed 5,43,500 cusecs at 6 AM on September 28 and stayed above 5 lakh cusecs for 13 hours, the state water resources department said. About 4,93,000 people across six districts have been affected.

The state has deployed 323 boats for rescue and set up 242 community kitchens serving about 5,22,000 people, Daily Kiran reported. Fourteen NDRF teams and 28 SDRF teams are carrying out relief and rescue operations.

A local report said a 58-year-old man died in Parshurampur after being struck by an air-dropped relief packet; district magistrate Vaibhava Srivastava said the cause of death is being verified and initial assistance has been provided to the family.