On the morning of 26 January this year, it was absolutely normal at Bhuj-air base. Suddenly, a killer quake devastated Bhuj city and the air-base. Immediately, Gp Capt SS Dhanda, Station Commander and senior officers surveyed the base and took account of the happenings. The Kutch district was cut off from the rest of the world as the communication network had failed. The Station Commander flew to AF Station Nalia in a chopper and, using the Air Force communication system, informed Air Marshal VK Bhatia, AOC-in-C South Western Air Command at Gandhinagar about the casualties, damage and gravity of the situation. Air Marshal Bhatia, in turn, informed Delhi regarding it.

As the ATC was destroyed, the controlling had to be done by a controller sitting in a helicopter. The first aircraft carrying doctors, medicines and basic relief material landed at Bhuj. The base was made operational and the gates for receiving relief from various sources were opened. While water, food and warm clothing were the essential requirements, removing the casualties and providing medical aid to the injured was even more important. The HQ SWAC started supplying water, cooked food and clothing by making 12 sorties.

A number of buildings at the Air Force base were destroyed and about 150 AF personnel and their family members lost their lives. However, disregarding the personal loss, the station personnel moved out to adjoining areas and started rescue operations. They rescued many people.

The available medical staff at the station sick quarters started providing first aid to the injured in the open ground. The civil hospital had collapsed. Only the Military Hospital was functioning. Wg Cdr MS Sandhu, officiating Commanding Officer, Military Hospital, Bhuj and his team of specialists rose to the occasion and gave succour to thousands of injured residents of Bhuj. Many seriously injured persons were airlifted to Military Hospitals at Ahmedabad, Pune, Baroda and Mumbai.

Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, Chief of Air Staff visited the affected areas and was apprised of the situation by Air Marshal VK Bhatia. Army personnel, doctors with surgical equipment, medicines and the relief equipment were airlifted to Bhuj by SWAC. The required relief started reaching the needy people inspite of damaged roads and dismantled railway tracks.

Bhuj had suddenly become the busiest airport in the world. Even though AF Station, Bhuj did not have the required infrastructure, the IAF accomplished the biggest ever rescue and relief operation. Every ten minutes, an aeroplane was landing or taking off. As there was no power, kerosene lamps were used for lighting the runway at night. The injured civilians and the affected families of the IAF personnel were being evacuated. Air Force personnel could be seen controlling the air traffic. The atmosphere was filled with the roaring sound of the aircraft engines. Amidst this noise, the silence of the calamity was seen on the face of every individual.