Operation Rahat ( '' Rāhata '' , lit . " Relief " ) was the name given to the Indian Air Force 's rescue operations to evacuate civilians affected by the 2013 North India floods . Thousands of pilgrims in transit in the hill states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh were stranded in various valleys . It was one of the largest operations of the Indian Armed Forces in several decades . and IAF claims it to be the biggest civilian rescue operation in the world carried out by any air force using helicopters . During the first phase of the operation From 17 June 2013 , the IAF airlifted a total of 19,600 people - flying a total of 2,140 sorties and dropping/landing a total of 3,82,400 kg of relief material and equipment
2013 North India floods
2013 North India floods
Operation Rahat