New Delhi: Joining rescue operations, IAF today pressed a Chetak and two medium-lift MI-17 helicopters from Kalikunda air base to assist relief work at the site of the train derailment in Jhargram in West Bengal.
IAF's AN-32 aircraft is also being pressed into service from Jorhat and bringing in paramedics and medical supply, an IAF spokesperson said.
"I have met the Air Chief Marshal in the morning and he has assured full support in carrying out the relief and rescue operation and we are getting full support of the IAF," Member (Traffic) Railway Board Vivek Sahai said.
Railways have dispatched a medical relief van and three accident relief trains to the spot.
Sixty-five passengers of a Maharashtra-bound express train were killed early today and 200 injured in a Maoist attack which led to derailment of 13 coaches, five of which were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction.