IAF helicopters to carry poll personnel to Maoist-hit regions in Odisha’s Nuapada; night landing trial done

In a landmark operation ahead of the Nuapada by-election, an Indian Air Force helicopter successfully carried out a night landing at the Gotma airstrip in Nuapada on Saturday at around 8:10 pm.

The operation marked the first time a military aircraft had landed safely at night in the district, paving the way for the secure transportation of polling parties to Maoist-affected areas.

Officials said the air operation was conducted to move election personnel to remote polling stations in the Sunabeda region, where ground access remains risky due to Maoist activity and difficult terrain.

District Election Officer and Collector Madhusudan Das confirmed the successful landing, noting that the airstrip had been specially prepared to enable night operations. The Collector added that the operation would greatly aid the movement of polling teams in sensitive zones ahead of voting day.

NGV Lights From Delhi

Until recently, the Gotma helipad lacked the infrastructure required for night operations. To address this, the district administration directed the Works Department to install NGV (Night Goggles Vision)-compatible infrared (IR) lights.

These lights help pilots identify the landing strip from up to 5 kilometres away in darkness. The IR lights were urgently procured from Delhi within two days and installed at the airstrip under the supervision of engineers and Air Force technicians.

After installation, a series of trials was conducted late Thursday night to verify illumination levels and alignment. Once the tests confirmed operational readiness, the Air Force helicopter performed the official landing on Friday night, successfully completing the trial under controlled conditions.

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Air Force To Transport Polling Teams To Maoist Zones

Officials said the Air Force will operate two dedicated helicopters for the by-election period to ferry polling teams, EVMs, and security personnel to and from Sunabeda and other Maoist-affected locations.

Meanwhile, security and logistical arrangements have been intensified in the district ahead of the November 11 by-election. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across sensitive zones, while Air Force coordination continues for aerial deployment of polling teams.