Skydivers of the Akash Ganga team of the Air Force make a formation in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Amarjeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 22

The ‘Akash Ganga’ team of the Indian Air Force and Air Warriors’ symphony orchestra stole IAF Mela at the MA Stadium here today.Led by Wing Commander AK Yadav, 11 skydivers of the Akash Ganga team jumped off IAF flying machines from an altitude of 8,000 feet and formed various formations before touching the ground amid applause from the audience.It was the Akash Ganga skydiving team’s maiden display in Jammu.Though the “drill to thrill” — display of weapon handling skills by nicely attired Air Force personnel, martial arts presentation by the Garud Commando Force of the IAF and gravity-defying maneuvers on the skyline by three UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicles) — drew applause, renditions by Air Warriors’ symphony orchestra stole the show.Air Officer Commanding, Jammu Air Force Station, Air Commodore Ashutosh Lal; former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah; Nagrota MLA Devinder Singh Rana; state BJP president and sitting MLA Sat Sharma; and BJP legislator Rajesh Gupta were present at the event.