Jammu: The Army on Tuesday launched a large-scale humanitarian and disaster relief operation in flood-hit areas of Jammu and adjoining Punjab, deploying multiple rescue columns and helicopters to evacuate stranded civilians and BSF personnel.
A defence spokesperson said dozens of people were rescued from marooned localities, with operations continuing at several sites, including Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) on the outskirts of Jammu, where students remain trapped inside a building.
In the Jammu sector, four rescue columns were deployed at different locations to evacuate residents from submerged areas. Seven civilians, including a child, were pulled to safety from Garhi Garh in the R S Pura sector, while 12 people stranded inside a building in Shergarh were also being rescued. Separate operations are underway to evacuate students trapped at SKUAST and at a Government School in Swahanjana village.
Each rescue column typically comprises 25–30 personnel, though the numbers may vary depending on the situation, army sources said.
In Punjab’s Mamun sector in Pathankot, coordinated ground and helicopter missions are being carried out. So far, 11 BSF personnel have been evacuated from the Nikka Border Outpost, seven civilians were airlifted from Kachle village to Taragarh Government Senior Secondary School, and two more individuals were rescued by helicopter from Shahpur Kandi.
The spokesperson said evacuation efforts are in progress for about 50 civilians and nine Army personnel stranded at a forward post in the sector, while helicopter missions are also underway at Zainpir-Kukkar.
In Amli village, nine civilians cut off by landslides were rescued with helicopter assistance. Rising water levels hindered ground rescue operations at Nad village, but police boats managed to evacuate several trapped civilians.
Additionally, nearly 70 people stranded in Makaura village were shifted to safety using boats.
