NOC sends 16,000-litre refuelling truck to Nuwakot to support helicopter rescue operations

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has dispatched a 16,000-liter aviation fuel refuelling truck to Nuwakot to bolster helicopter rescue and relief efforts in areas affected by recent floods in Rasuwa.

This move is intended to streamline operations for the Nepal Army and private helicopters engaged in rescue missions. By enabling helicopters to refuel directly in Nuwakot, the NOC aims to eliminate the need for them to return to Kathmandu solely for fuel, thereby increasing the efficiency and speed of rescue operations.

Pradeep Yadav, chief of the NOC's aviation fuel depot in Sinamangal, explained that this is the first time such a refuelling truck, typically restricted to airport premises, has been deployed outside an airport. The decision was made in consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and the Nepal Army, recognizing the critical emergency situation.

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We are sending a 16,000-liter-capacity refueling truck to provide fuel to the Nepal Army and other helicopters involved in the rescue operations.

If the truck cannot reach its intended destination at the Nepal Army barracks in Nuwakot, it will be stationed at the Army barracks in Gajuri, Dhading. Yadav assured that the deployment, while outside normal operating procedures, is being conducted under the security and supervision of Nepal Army and NOC representatives.

Officials anticipate that this logistical support will significantly enhance the effectiveness of rescue efforts for flood and landslide victims. The NOC's initiative is expected to provide crucial assistance during this emergency period, facilitating quicker and more comprehensive relief operations.

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Although the vehicle is not normally permitted to operate outside the airport, we have sent it under the security and supervision of two Nepal Army representatives and three representatives from the corporation due to the exceptional circumstances.