The Indian Army and Indian Air Force were called in on Monday for rescue and relief operations as heavy rains, triggering flash floods and landslides, ravaged Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
In the densely-populated Yamunanagar district of Haryana, located astride the Yamuna, some low-lying hamlets along the river’s changing course were badly hit by the rising water levels. About 60 people from Lapee, Udhri and Gumthala villages in the district were marooned. As a result, the Yamunanagar Deputy Commissioner requested for Army assistance from the Ambala-based 2 Corps headquarters on Sunday, the Army headquarters said here. Soon after, a flood relief column comprising nearly 100 armymen with essential relief equipment, including pneumatic boats and motor boats, were dispatched.
By mid Monday, 52 people, including 10 children, were evacuated to safer places and the relief operations by the Army were continuing, the reports reaching the Army headquarters said.
“More troops and equipment have been kept on stand-by at Ambala to move at short notice to deal with any calamity,” it added.
In Uttarakhand, the Army provided continuous humanitarian aid to thousands of pilgrims in the last 36 hours by establishing assistance centres at Harsil, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Govindghat, Hanuman Chetti and Dharchula.In the last 24 hours, these centres have provided information, medical aid, food and water to the stranded and hungry pilgrims, the Army said.
The Army also provided succour to paramilitary personnel at Sela in Pithoragarh district and a detachment of mules at Gauri Kund near Kedarnath. Eight quick reaction medical teams established medical aid posts at Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Govindghat and Dharchula to provide immediate life-saving medical assistance.