Over 5,000 Civilians Rescued in Flood-Hit Jammu, Punjab & Himachal: Indian Army
Chandigarh, Sept 1: The Indian Army’s Western Command has rescued more than 5,000 civilians and delivered over 21 tonnes of relief supplies in flood-affected areas of Jammu, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Monday.
Launching large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations from August 16, the army mobilised 47 columns, supported by army aviation, the Indian Air Force, engineers, medical teams, and communication units.
At a press briefing in Chandimandir, Major General Puneet Ahuja and Colonel Iqbal Singh Arora said troops were mobilised at short notice to protect lives, restore connectivity, and ensure relief delivery.
“Both the Army Aviation Corps and IAF deployed multiple aircraft—including ALHs, Mi-17s, reconnaissance choppers and a Chinook—to carry out evacuations and air-drop essentials,” Col Arora said.
So far, over 5,000 civilians and 300 paramilitary personnel stranded in flooded areas have been evacuated, while essential supplies such as food, medicines, and daily-use items were distributed on ground and via aerial drops.
Army engineers also constructed a Bailey bridge in Jammu Tawi within 12 hours (Aug 29), restoring a vital transport link. In addition, communication teams laid 2 km of optical fibre cable on Aug 27, reviving mobile connectivity in affected areas.
Punjab has been reeling under massive floods triggered by swollen Sutlej, Beas, Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets, devastating districts like Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar.
In Jammu & Kashmir, heavy rain, cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods since August 14 have left over 130 people dead, 120 injured, and 33 missing, with Kishtwar, Kathua, Reasi and Ramban among the worst-hit districts.
Himachal Pradesh has also witnessed widespread devastation with multiple flash floods, cloudbursts, and major landslides, resulting in significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure.
“The operations are being conducted in close coordination with civil authorities, NDRF, and SDRF,” Col Arora said, adding that the integrated approach reflects the country’s unity and resilience during crisis.
