Indian Air force rescues 2 NRI women tourists from forest of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur

Ambika Sharma

Solan, May 11

Indian Air force rescued two NRI women tourists in their Cheetah helicopter from the thick forests of Teesri village en route Churdhar tracking route in Sirmaur, on Saturday morning.

They had ventured on this track on Friday but were stuck in Teesri. One of them who had suffered from a spinal injury failed to negotiate the tough climb.

Nohradhar police received information about the duo at 4 pm following which they proceeded to rescue the women.

A team of state disaster response force also reached Teesri to rescue them.

Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta said the reports of two NRI women tourists being stuck at Teesri forests were received on Friday evening by the district administration. They coordinated with the home ministry, air force, ministry of external affairs and local officials for their safe rescue as it involved NRI women.

Arrangements were made to airlift them at 11 am, said DC Khimta.

The women were traced to about 10 km beyond the base camp by the district administration on Friday night.

They have been identified as Richa Abhay Sonawane and Sonia Rattan. Richa is a native of West Bengal who was born in Darjeeling in 1980. The other woman, Sonia, was born in India in 1978. She had undergone a spinal surgery after suffering from an injury.

Both are citizens of the US. After being rescued, they were sent to a hospital in Chandigarh for treatment.