IAF rescues 110 from Chamba and Killar

AIR FORCE STATION, UDHAMPUR, WAS TASKED TO CARRY OUT HUMANITARIAN AID AND DISASTER RELIEF MISSION IN HIMACHAL

JAMMU: The Air Force Station, Udhampur, rescued 24 children and 26 medical personnel during a rescue operation in Chamba which was launched on Thursday and continued on Friday.

“Air Force Station, Udhampur, was tasked to carry out humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) mission in Himachal Pradesh, close to Chamba and Kilar valley. Two aircraft were launched from the Udhampur Air Force Station immediately,” ,”said defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand.

“They had a tiring task of landing at a small helipad in Chamba that could accommodate only single aircraft. On reaching, the aircrew realised that there were 52 school children aged 9 to 10 years stranded in Chamba town for past 10 days. The children were from a school at Kilar and were to be airlifted back to Kilar,” he said.

Additionally, 45 medical personnel were found stranded at Kilar at an elevation of more than 9,500 feet, he said.

The spokesman informed that there was a highly treacherous ridge (Kund) between Chamba, which was at an elevation of more than 3,000 feet and Kilar at an elevation of more than 9,500 feet. Both the aircraft established an air bridge between Kilar and Chamba, crossing a pass more than 15,000 feet.

Air bridge is a term generally used in aviation to signify routes and means of delivery material from one place to another by an airlift. It is a kind of a link by air transport between two places separated by inhospitable and unreachable terrain.

“More than 35 children and 25 adults were rescued till sunset on Thursday. Additionally, on Friday, 26 medical personnel were rescued from Kilar to Chamba and 24 children from Chamba to Kilar,” he said.

Both the aircraft and crew have come back safely.

Himachal government has applauded the efforts put up by the Air Force Station, Udhampur.

HUNDREDS STUCK ON LEH-MANALI HIGHWAY RESCUED

The army rescued hundreds of civilians from Leh-Manali highway who were stuck on the highway since past one week after landslides and snowslides.

As many as 124 civilians, including 31 Bhutanese nationals, 38 Nepalese nationals and 55 Indian tourists, were rescued from Bharatpur to Sarchu and were provided medical aid, shelter and clothing.

In addition, 22 civilians, including two Australian nationals present near Sarchu, were rescued. A vehicle-cum-foot patrol launched from Patsio to Suraj Tal evacuated 95 civilians.

Army detachments are also clearing the road wherever civilian vehicles have been stuck.

PRO defence colonel Rajesh Kalia said the effect has been more pronounced near Baralacha La and along the road from Killing-Sarai to Bharatpur. The Army detachments operating from Rumtse, Pang, Sarchu, Patsio and Tandi have offered spontaneous help to people stuck at different places by providing warm clothing, shelter, hot meals, medical aid, satellite communication and by carrying out physical rescue missions.

A highly specialised and trained Avalanche Panther Rescue Team of Ladakh Scouts has been inducted into the affected area for rescue and relief operations.

One medical officer and one signals officer have been inducted to Patsio for providing medical assistance and communication arrangements to the stranded civilians.