NEW DELHI, JAN 16
The Indian Air Force has rescued over 107 people including 50 trekkers, nine foreign nationals, local guides and porters stranded when some portions of frozen Zanskar River in Ladhak region started melting.
A release from the PIB (Defence Wing) in New Delhi on Thursday said that 50 trekkers including nine foreign nationals and approximately equal number of local guides and porters, who were a part of the ongoing ‘Chadar Trek’, got stranded when some portions of the frozen Zanskar River melted.
The melting caused the flow of the water to become too strong, for the trekkers to continue across the river on foot. The stranded trekkers managed to move to Niraq, a small camp site upstream and were waiting for their rescue.
With a view to carry out a rescue by helicopters, a makeshift helipad was prepared along the river bank. ALH helicopters of IAF were immediately pressed into action from Air Force Station in Leh. IAF helicopters have rescued 107 individuals during the last two days.
The rescued trekkers including, one male and one female from France and four male and three females from China, who as per the information were rescued from Padum, IAF will continue its ongoing rescue operation till all the stranded trekkers, guides and porters are evacuated and brought to safety
In order to provide medical facilities to the stranded trekkers a medical officer and a medical assistant were also flown from Leh Air Force Station to Niraq. The team has setup a medical assistance camp at Niraq and is providing basic medical assistance to the stranded trekkers.
The rescue operations were undertaken by IAF in close coordination with Ladakh’s newly formed Civil Administration, nearby Indian Army units and local Disaster Relief Teams, the release added.
