Chandigarh
The Western Command of the Indian Army said on Monday that more than 5,000 civilians and 300 paramilitary personnel were rescued from flood-hit regions of Jammu, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. A total of 47 Army columns have been deployed since August 16 to conduct large-scale rescue and relief operations.
Alongside evacuations, around 21 tonnes of relief material, including food, medicines, and essentials, have been delivered both on the ground and through aerial drops to isolated villages. Aviation assets of the Army, supported by the Indian Air Force, have flown sustained sorties to evacuate stranded people and deliver supplies.
To monitor the situation, a flood control and water-level cell was set up to track conditions at major headworks, including Bhakra-Nangal and Ranjit Sagar dams. Army operations are being conducted with close coordination from civil administrations, the NDRF, and the SDRF.
The rescue teams include engineers, medical detachments, and communication units. Twenty aircraft, including Advanced Light Helicopters, Mi-17s, Reconnaissance helicopters, and a Chinook, have flown over 250 hours. On August 27, Army communication teams restored mobile services by laying two km of optical fibre cable.
Further, Army engineers built a Bailey Bridge at Jammu Tawi within 12 hours on August 29, restoring a key connection. Flooded enclaves along the Ravi and Chenab rivers also posed challenges, but troops evacuated civilians and BSF personnel while ensuring security in sensitive zones.
The Army said the integrated approach reflected resilience, unity, and timely response in managing the crisis.
