Army rescues CRPF personnel, civilians stranded in Jammu's Lakhanpur

The Army Aviation on Wednesday rescued civilians and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stranded in a flood-hit building at Lakhanpur in Jammu’s Kathua region.

According to CRPF sources, due to consistent rains and overflowing of water at the Lakhanpur barrage, CRPF personnel belonging to D/121 company had been shifted to a location across NH44 on the evening of August 26.

However 22 CRPF personnel along with a canine and three civilians were left stranded in a tourist reception building which was away from the flow of water.

During the night, the excessive water flow from the Ranjit Sagar Dam broke an embankment and water rushed to the building and engulfed it from all the sides, leaving the CRPF personnel and the three civilians stranded.

On a specific request by the CRPF, the Army, SDRF and NDRF teams reached the spot and with the help of the Army’s aviation wing, all the stranded personnel and canine were rescued.

In a post on social media platform X, the Army described the mission as a “high-risk helicopter rescue operation” that required “courage and precision.”

“Despite dangerous flying conditions, Army pilots managed to land on a building that was on the verge of collapse. Risking their own lives, the soldiers ensured that every stranded person was lifted to safety. Shortly after the evacuation, the building gave way, underscoring the urgency of the operation,” the Army said.