The Indian Army Aviation on Wednesday rescued civilians and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stranded in a flood-hit building at Madhopur Headworks in Punjab.
The operation was launched at dawn under challenging weather conditions, with the structure already weakened by continuous rain and rising water levels of the Ravi River.
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.” The statement said Army Aviation helicopters evacuated all those trapped, braving poor visibility and rapidly rising waters.
“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.
The flooding followed a breach of the Ravi River’s banks in the Lakhanpur area of Kathua after all gates of the Ranjit Sagar Dam were opened to release excess water caused by heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir has been severely impacted. A bridge on the Jammu–Pathankot highway collapsed, cutting off a key route, while landslides blocked the Jammu–Srinagar highway. Communication networks in the Kashmir Valley have also been disrupted, adding to the difficulties of residents already facing power outages and flooding.
-IANS