Nagaland: Rumour mill in high gear over sighting of IAF aircrafts in Dimapur

Eastern Mirror Desk

Dimapur, Aug. 26: Dimapur witnessed what appeared to be fighter jets flying at an unusually low altitude on Monday, creating a buzz around the town and raising many speculation and questions on social media platforms.

A reliable source from the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed to Eastern Mirror that the aircrafts were indeed Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jets of the IAF, and was part of their routine peacetime training exercise that takes place now and then.

The source said that the jets from neighbouring airbases were carrying out the routine practice of approach and landing at Dimapur airport.

“This is a regular practice carried out in all civil airfields to familiarise the aircrew and would be carried out in future also. Hence the public should not get worried by the sound it creates especially during take-off stage,” said the source, adding that there is no need for panic or ‘any misinterpretation.’

The source also informed that the IAF had participated at the celebration of Nagaland Statehood Day on December 1, 2018, as per the request of the state government.

It may be mentioned that the IAF also carried out peacetime operation in support of the civil administration and citizens who were left stranded by landslides, as part of their disaster management assistance to the state government last year.

Mi-17 helicopters were used to drop food and essential commodities, weighing approximately 60 tonnes, in four of the affected districts, the source informed.