New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started operations in the flood-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir, pressing its AN-32 aircraft to airlift NDRF teams and equipment, an official statement said Saturday.

Two AN-32 medium military transport aircraft that can be operated in various climatic conditions are being used along with the heavy-lift IL-76.

The aircraft are ferrying teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and relief material to Srinagar and Jammu from Bhatinda.

"The headquarter of Western Air Command has opened a disaster monitoring cell that is coordinating the efforts between all its bases, including Srinagar, Udhampur, Jammu and Sarsawa apart from fixed wing effort from other bases," the statement said.

"The IAF Command has alerted all its bases to a high state of readiness to respond to the emerging situation," it added.

Air Force officials added bad weather in Srinagar Saturday did not permit helicopters to take off from there.

However, Mi-17 IV and Mi 17 V-5 made six sorties from Jammu and evacuated 108 personnel, including three children. Of these, 94 people were moved to safer areas.

Many of them were stranded on rooftops and marooned in the floods.

The IL-76 airlifted 32 tonnes of load and 162 NDRF personnel to Srinagar whereas the two AN-32 carried 25 NDRF personnel and load of four tonnes to Jammu.

The Air Force has assigned aircraft at its bases in Agra, Chandigarh, Suratgarh and Sarsawa apart from those in Jammu and Kashmir for the relief operation.