Woman copter pilot among 7 awarded IAF gallantry medal

NEW DELHI: A woman helicopter pilot, who flew several sorties to rescue 47 people from a flood-hit region last year, is among the seven IAF personnel who have been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry.
The seven include four pilots, Wing Commander Deepika Misra, Group Captains Rahul Singh and Ravi Nanda, and Flight Lt D Ravindra Rao. The others are Squadron Leader Dilip Gurnani, Sergeants Parminder Singh and Shyam Veer Singh.
Wing Commander Deepika, flying a Dhruv advanced light helicopter, was tasked along with other chopper pilots to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in response to flash floods in northern MP on August 2 last year. “Despite the odds of deteriorating weather, strong winds and the nearing sunset, Wing Commander Deepika negotiated the challenging weather and was the first and only respondent to reach the affected area on the same evening,” an IAF officer said.
The initial aerial reconnaissance and inputs provided by her proved instrumental in planning of the entire rescue operation by IAF, NDRF, SDRF and other civil authorities.
Wing Commander Deepika also swung into action to pick up stranded people from roads, fields and flooded grounds in her helicopter and then drop them to safer places.
“In one instance, she had to evacuate four villagers from a roof top. Despite the high risk of spatial disorientation due to limited visual cues and flowing water, she was successful in saving their lives. The rescue operation lasted for eight days and she saved lives of 47 people, ,” the officer said.