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By Akshay Dongare: Wing Commander Deepika Misra was conferred the Vayu Sena medal by Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Marshal VR Chaudhari on Thursday, making her the first woman Air Force officer to receive a gallantry award.
She was among 58 personnel who received the gallantry award during the investiture ceremony held in the national capital.
Wing Commander Deepika Misra is a trained helicopter pilot, qualified flying instructor and an instrument-rated instructor and examiner.
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On August 2, 2021, Deepika Misra was tasked to undertake humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in response to flash floods in northern Madhya Pradesh. Despite the odds of deteriorating weather, strong winds and the nearing sunset time, Deepika Misra negotiated the challenging weather and was the first and only respondent to reach the affected area the same evening.
Her initial aerial reconnaissance and inputs from the flood-impacted area proved to be instrumental in planning the entire rescue operation by the IAF, the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and other civil authorities.
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In another instance, she had to evacuate four villagers from a rooftop and despite the high risk caused due to limited visibility and flowing water, she was successful in saving their lives.
The rescue operation, including low hover pick-ups and winching, lasted for an exhaustive eight days, and she saved the lives of 47 people including women and children.
Her efforts of bravery and courage not only saved several lives in a natural calamity but also instilled a sense of safety amongst the common populace in the flood-affected area.
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