Manipuri IAF pilot Sandip evacuated Indians from Ukraine
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 15 2022: After Russia launched attack on Ukraine, which resulted in a major humanitarian crisis, Manipuri IAF pilot Mutum Sandip successfully evacuated several stranded Indians who fled the war-torn eastern European country and took refuge in neighbouring countries like Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

In an exclusive talk with The People's Chronicle, squadron leader of Indian Air Force Sandip said that the missions were exhaustible but he felt satisfied on seeing the smile on the faces of stranded Indians when they boarded the military transport plane C-17 Globe Master.

Sandip informed that he was part of the evacuation plan of the Central government's 'Mission Ganga' .

During one such mission in Slovakia, he found union minister Kiren Rijiju supervising the rescue operation.

The minister is from Arunachal Pradesh and Indian ambassador to Slovakia is from Mizoram.

Sandip recounted the ambassador asking him where he is from and on being told that he is from Manipur, the ambassador expressed elation over the presence and involvement of three of them from the northeast region in the mission.

It was a memorable mission for him, he said.

His last mission was in Poland and it also became one of the most challenging assignments.

The mission was led by union minister General (Redt) VK Singh.

They had to stay for nine hours at the airport waiting for an Indian with gunshot wound.

As he was out of danger, they stayed awake waiting for some more Indian students, who were crossing the border.

In the return flight, minister VK Singh sat in the cockpit and the mission took around 40 hours, Sandip recalled.

All the missions were challenging tasks and they took toll on his physical condition as he had to operate non-stop during each mission.

However, he also feels a sense of satisfaction in carrying out such mission thinking that he is serving the nation and the people, he confided.

Sandip also said that he had participated in several crucial missions.

His first mission was during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic during which he carried out several missions to bring oxygen tankers from Germany (twice), UK, Oman, Indonesia and Egypt.

It took around 12 hours to reach Germany and he did not get any sleep during duty cycle.

Besides, change in time zone affected his biological clock.

He also brought medicines, oxygen and other essential items in the state three times to fight Covid-19 pandemic using the same IAF plane.

About his journey to become an IAF pilot, Sandip son of Mutum Nabachandra and Indira said that he is from Thoubal Kiyam Siphai but stays at his maternal grandfather Akoijam Kunjo's home at Thoubal Keithel.

He began his schooling at Anandapurna School where he studied up to 6th standard.

He cleared Sainik School entrance examination in 2000 and passed out from the same school in 2007.His maternal grandfather is a retired school teacher and he took major role in shaping his career.

During his stint at Sainik School, he led Shivaji House and won the house trophy, which was the first and last for the house to win the trophy, he said.

During his childhood, he was fond of music but he made up his mind to become a pilot after learning about the life and career of group captain Thokchom Sanamatum, also from Thoubal.

He cleared NDA and underwent training for three years, including flying the IAF's largest transport plane C-17 Globemaster, Sandip added.

Comment