Mi-17s, Chinooks conduct 55 sorties

The Indian Air Force has escalated its operations for flood relief and rescue in north India which had commenced on August 27, focusing primarily on the severely affected Punjab and Jammu regions.

Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters have conducted at least 55 sorties to evacuate stranded civilians and personnel from the Indian Army and Border Security Force from inundated areas in Dera Baba Nanak, Pathankot and Akhnoor sectors.

The C-130 transport aircraft have also been deployed to facilitate rapid movement of specialised National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams into the affected zones. Air assets are strategically tasked to maximise coverage and support.

The operations have enabled the rescue of 215 individuals and delivered 7,300 kg of essential relief material in the affected areas in the past three days, an IAF spokesperson said on Friday.

On Friday, in a daring and skillful mission, helicopters of IAF evacuated nine marooned civilians, including children, from the flood-hit Dera Baba Nanak area in Punjab by winching them to safety from the roof of a house surrounded by water.

Current efforts are concentrated in northern Punjab, where the situation remains critical due to continuing high water levels, which has hampered surface connectivity. The relief missions are being executed in close coordination with the Indian Army, Border Security Force, NDRF and the local administration to ensure timely evacuation and distribution of supplies.

Meanwhile, a number of Army columns deployed in Punjab and Jammu continued with their relief and rescue operations, evacuating marooned persons, rendering medical aid and providing food and other essential supplies.

Engineers of the Tiger Division laid a 110-foot Bailey bridge in just 12 hours to revive the road link over Tawi bridge in Jammu, the eastern span of which was severely damaged by floods. Overcoming washed-out approaches and limited workspace, vehicular movement was restored under challenging conditions, an Army officer said.

In flood-affected Dera Baba Nanak, the Army’s Panther Division soldiers are reaching every corner in their rescue operations, while in the Ferozepur sector, the Golden Arrow Division rescued a large number of families from Ruknewala, Dhiraganaand, Dilche Palla and Megha villages.

7,689 evacuated; drones drop essential supplies

As many as 7,689 people have been rescued from flood-ravaged areas, said an official statement on Friday.

Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said 20 choppers of the Army had been stationed to evacuate people. “Drones are being used to trace people, and also to deliver food packets and other essential items,” he added.

Shukla said Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Fazilka and Ferozepur were among the worst-hit districts in the state. The officer said the Punjab Police had set up relief camps at flood-affected areas, wherein food and medicines were being provided for those evacuated. Fodder was also being provided for the cattle, he added. — TNS