Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic landing on Saturday, February 14, at the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF), arriving in Moran, Assam, aboard a C-130J Super Hercules. The visit included high-profile engagements such as inaugurating major infrastructure projects and inspecting strategic facilities aimed at boosting connectivity, defense readiness, and overall development in the Northeast.
The Prime Minister touched down at the ELF on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh at around 10:51 am, after which he witnessed a spectacular aerial display featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters. The demonstration included touch-and-go exercises by the Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter jets, using the bypass itself as a functional runway.
The facility, the first of its kind in Northeast India, was developed in close coordination with the Indian Air Force. Designed for both civil and military aircraft, it will be a critical asset for emergency operations, enabling rapid deployment of rescue and relief efforts during natural disasters or other strategic situations in the region.
Strategically, the Northeast shares international borders with China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, making the ELF an important symbol of India’s defense preparedness. The runway can handle fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes, ensuring swift and effective response to both emergency and strategic contingencies.
