MLS Lorries full of refugees waiting on airstrip

MS Refugees dismount from lorries (4 shots)

MS Refugees walk across tarmac

LS Refugees walk towards aircraft (2 shots)

MLS Refugees enter aircraft

MCS Ditto (3 shots)

MCS Refugees seated in aircraft (2 shots)

MS Shadow of aircraft's propeller on ground as aircraft takes off (SHOTS FROM 'PLANE)

MCS Pilots in cockpit

AS Calcutta

CU Aircraft engine

AS New camp

CS Pilot at controls

LS Aircraft landing

CS Refugees disembark (2 shots)

LS Ditto

MS Ditto

MS Refugees cross tarmac towards camp

MS Refugees in tent PAN TO SHOW other tents (2 shots)
Initials BB/2207 CP/BHH/BB/2158 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Two Antonov-12 transport aircraft, belonging to the Soviet airline, Aeroflot, on Tuesday (June 15) began airlifting refugees from East Pakistan to a special resettlement camp set up in Central India, by the Indian Government. A third Soviet aircraft was due to join in the airlift operation on Wednesday (June 16).

The refugees, who have been living in squalid conditions in camps around the Calcutta area, were taken to Calcutta airport on special trucks for what was to be for many of them the first flight of their lives.

The Antonov, normally used for hauling cargo, can carry up to one hundred and 20 people. Of special concern were the monsoon weather conditions as the Indian authorities were hoping to make the first flight of these inexperienced travellers as comfortable as possible.

The first aircraft reported favourable conditions on landing near the Mana resettlement camp, and shortly afterwards the second AN-12 took off.

This film report of the refugee transference operation was shot by Visnews cameramen, Prem Prakash and Durgades Chatterji.