NEW DELHI: The Indian Army carried out a daring rescue in Punjab’s flood-hit Amritsar district, evacuating 27 people with Aviation helicopters under its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission.Recalling the events of August 27 around 4 pm, the Army said it received an urgent alert about rising floodwaters endangering lives in the Lassian area of Gurdaspur, Punjab. Acting swiftly, a dare devil rescue mission was launched with three Cheetah helicopters carrying out multiple sorties. “Their heroic and timely action in the most extreme flying conditions led to the successful evacuation of 27 persons,” Indian Army said in a post on X. “The Indian Army remains committed to providing all necessary assistance and support to ensure the safety of all citizens during this time of crisis,” it added. Punjab is grappling with severe flooding reminiscent of the 1988 floods, as swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers inundate vast tracts of farmland and villages along their banks, officials said to PTI. The worst-affected areas include villages in the districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar. In Gurdaspur, a team of NDRF personnel rescued a man bitten by a snake from the flood-hit village of Kotla Muglan on Thursday. The individual was promptly taken to a health centre. On Wednesday, NDRF and BSF teams conducted a rescue operation at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Daburi, Gurdaspur, evacuating 381 students and 70 teachers stranded by flooding in the school campus and surrounding areas. In Pathankot, Indian Army Aviation undertook a high-risk helicopter rescue operation, evacuating stranded civilians and CRPF personnel from a building encircled by floodwaters that subsequently collapsed. The Army shared images of the operation on its X handle, stating, “Despite dangerous flying conditions, Army pilots landed the helicopter on the building that was already on the verge of collapse, a feat demanding the highest level of flying skills and unmatched bravery.” In a separate Pathankot operation, IAF helicopters successfully evacuated 46 civilians as flooding intensified and airdropped over 750 kilograms of essential relief material to support local communities, an IAF spokesperson said. Additionally, 38 Army personnel and 10 BSF personnel were rescued by winching them from the severely-hit Dera Baba Nanak region, reflecting the IAF’s prompt response and professionalism under perilous conditions, the spokesperson added. Furthermore, in Pathankot, the IAF airlifted 60 irrigation officials who were deployed to open the gates of the Madhopur barrage on Wednesday, officials stated. The BSF launched rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts. “Deploying helicopters, boats and highly trained water wing personnel, BSF teams successfully evacuated stranded villagers to safer locations. Their timely action and tireless efforts not only saved precious lives but also instilled confidence and a sense of relief among the distressed population,” the BSF Punjab Frontier said on X on Thursday. The BSF also conducted rescues in Dhira Gara, Nihala Lavera and Sultanwala villages in Ferozepur district, saving locals from the rising Sutlej waters. Photographs showed BSF personnel carrying children on their shoulders in flooded villages while many evacuees were ferried in boats. In Gurdaspur, BSF teams rescued 70 villagers in Makora and Chakmakoda villages using inflatable boats. Another operation in Kaluwala village of Ferozepur saw 14 residents ferried across the flooded Sutlej river, the BSF stated. Additionally, a sick elderly person from the flood-hit village of Mahar Jamsher in Fazilka district was safely evacuated to the Civil Hospital by BSF troops. Go to Source
