Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: IAF drill with US in Aug.

IAF drill with US in Aug.
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ASIANAGE on 06 July, 2008 02:51:03
 
BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
July 6: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a multi-nation Air Force
exercise, codenamed Exercise Red Flag '08, in the United States at the
invitation of the United States Air Force (USAF) in August. The exercise will be
held at the Nellis Air Force base in the US from August 9-23.
The IAF will be participating in the exercise with eight frontline Sukhoi-30
MKI fighter aircraft, two IL-78 air-to-air refuellers and one IL-76 transport
aircraft.
The IAF contingent will comprise 247 personnel, including 91 officers.
Other countries participating in Exercise Red Flag will be France and South
Korea. However, the IAF contingent will leave India on Monday itself and will
transit through Qatar, Turkey, France and Portugal before reaching the US on
July 17. From July 17 to August 7, the IAF contingent will train at the Mountain
Home Air Base of the USAF at Idaho on the F-16s and F-15s of the USAF.
"The training at Idaho will help streamline procedures and have a clear
understanding of the new flying environment,"official sources of the Indian Air
Force said.
Exercise Red Flag was started by the United States Air Force way back in 1975
and was envisaged as an multi-nation advanced aerial combat training exercise.
It is held thrice every year at the Nellis Air Force base.
Exercise Red Flag is yet another example of the growing Indo-US defence ties
despite opposition from certain political quarters.
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Heavy rains kill 36 in UP
BY AMITA VERMA
LUCKNOW
July 6: More than 36 people have been killed in the past two days due to houses
collapses, following incessant rains that have lashed various parts of Uttar
Pradesh.
Normal life has been completely disrupted following heavy rains and all major
rivers in the state are reported to be rising steadily with Ghagra in Ayodhya
and Sharda at Paliyan Kalyan having crossed the danger mark according to
official sources.
Majority of the deaths in the state have occurred due to house collapses and
rain-related accidents. Twelve deaths were reported on Sunday due to heavy rains
and accidents on highways. A large number of cattle have also died in the rains.
The low-lying areas in affected districts have already been submerged under
water and residents are being evacuated to higher places.
The state government has sanctioned Rs 21 crores for flood relief operations in
21 districts, most of them in eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh.
In Lucknow, rainfall has not stopped since Saturday morning, caused heavy water
logging and traffic snarls.
Train and bus services have also been affected .