Army Rescues 1,600 in Flood-Affected Mah, Chhatisgarh, Ladakh

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) The Army has so far rescued more than 1,600 people from the flood-affected areas of Marathwada in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Ladakh and regions of Himachal Pradesh.

Army Spokesperson Colonel SK Sakhuja today said five flood-relief columns alongwith an equal number of Engineer Task Force had been deployed in Nanded, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Washim and Jalna in Maharashtra.

Further, the Army had provided food packets and medical aid to the affected people even as Army Aviation helicopters were on stand-by. So far, 526 persons had been evacuated and 1,300 food packets and 758 medical aid kits provided in the area.

In Chhattisgarh, one composite Task Force -- along with medical team -- had been deployed at Dantewada. So far, a total of 1,026 civilians had been evacuated; 1,300 food packets dropped and medical aid provided to over 1,000 civilians Similarly, five columns had been deployed in Ladakh since August 2 in the affected areas of Leh town and adjoining areas. The Army was carrying out repair of abutments, widening of water channels, and repair of damaged pier on the road to Shanti Stupa. It has pitched 39 tents and evacuated 45 families and provided ''all possible aid'' to them, Col Sakhuja said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force had stepped up relief and rescue operations in flood-affected Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and some parts of Gujarat, said the IAF's Spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani.

For these relief and rescue operations, the IAF had deployed as many as 17 of its helicopters.

Giving details of the deployment, Wg Commander Upasani said it was as follows: Andhra Pradesh - Two Mi-8 helicopters ex-Bhadrachalam Chhattisgarh - Two Mi-8 helicopters ex-Jugdalpur Maharashtra - One Mi-8 ex-Nanded One Advanced Light Helicopter ex-Nanded Two Cheetahs ex-Nanded One Advanced Light Helicopter ex-Nagpur One Mi-8 ex-Nagpur Two Mi-8s planned for proceeding from Pune to Nagpur Gujarat - Two Mi-17 ex-Surat Two Mi-8s standing-by at Baroda One Advanced Light Helicopter ready to proceed from Hakimpet to Baroda The IAF today flew 10 sorties at Bhadrachalam, 20 sorties each from Nanded and in Chjattisgarh. The IAF had so far carried out over 110 sorties for the flood relief operations airlifting and rescuing hundreds of people besides airlifting over 85 tonnes of relief material, food-packets, and medicines, Wg Commander Upasani said.

UNI DG VA KP2023