IAF choppers made 404 sorties to ferry polling staff in Naxal-hit Bastar during Chhattisgarh 1st phase elections

The Indian Air Force conducted 404 sorties with eight MI-17 choppers to transport polling parties and voting machines in Naxal-affected Bastar division during the first phase of Chhattisgarh polls. The helicopters transported 853 polling team members to 156 polling stations in five districts of Bastar division. The operation was successfully completed, with a high voter turnout of 78 percent recorded in the 20 seats that went to polls in the first phase.