1.
AV: relief helicopters flying over flooded areas.
0.16

2.
GV: helicopters approach marooned village.
0.27

3.
AV: supplies being dropped from helicopter into marooned village running to collect supplies (2 shots)
1.05

4.
AV: people on rooftops
1.12

5.
AV: more supplies being dropped from helicopter; PAN OVER surrounding floodwaters.
1.58



Initials RH/1943



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Indian Authorities' flood rescue operations have taken on a new sensa of urgency with food supplies being dropped by Air Force helicopters to the outlying village in the Delhi area.

SYNOPSIS: The helicopters were brought in as the situation became desperate -- vast areas are under water, homes and crops have been ruined, and thousands of people have already been removed from their flooded homes.

Air Chief Marshal Moolgavkar, Chief of Air Staff, has announced that all the Air Force units in Delhi have decided to forego one day's entitlement of rations to help the flood victims. The village of Haryana...it's in the middle of a massive area of flooding...and it's only one of the many places on the Indian Air Force mercy list. The helicopter fly as low as possible to ensure the food supplies reach the ground reasonably intact. It's an important and long-awaited chance for the villagers to build up supplies-and they're eager to do it. From the air, floodwaters appear to form an artificial sea, with the stranded villages taking on the appearance of small islands.

In some places, the water's so deep the only safe place is on the rooftops. The Jumna River near Delhi is still marginally above danger level -- and rain in the catchment areas of Sahili and Haryana continues to push the floodwaters forwards-and even more areas are being inundated. There are still at least 15 more days of Monsoon rains predicted for North India. So far, nearly 100-thousand evacuees have been inoculated against fever. Police are being kept busier than usual during the floods -- not only helping with rescues, but also tracking down and punishing people trying to exploit the situation. There have been some reports of desperate evacuees being over-charged by boat and four wheel-drive owners who've been taking money for rescues.