| Army comes to help of more than 70 foreign tourists, locals trapped on Leh-Manali highway | | Rescues and shifts them to safer places | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Sep 28: More than 120 persons who got trapped on the Leh-Manali highway were rescued and shifted to safer places by army after they got stuck due to the landslides that hit people and vehicles on the highway.
Majority of the persons rescued were foreigners and belonged to Australia, Bhutan and Nepal. The tourists belonging to these countries and the locals have lauded the army for their role in saving them and then shifting them to safer places.
Srinagar based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that many vehicles got trapped due to large number of landslides and snow slides along the strategic Leh-Manali axis during the past one week or so. The effect has been more pronounced near Baralacha La and along the road from Killing-Sarai to Bharatpur.
"The army detachments operating from Rumtse, Pang, Sarchu, Patsio and Tandi have offered spontaneous help to people stuck at different places providing high altitude warm clothing, shelter, hot meals, medical aid, satellite communication and carrying out physical rescue missions," said Colonel Kalia.
The defence spokesman said that a highly specialized and trained Avalanche Panther rescue team of Ladakh Scouts has been inducted into the affected area for rescue and relief operations. The second Avalanche Rescue team is also being inducted shortly. One Medical Officer and one Signals Officer have been inducted to Patsio for providing medical assistance and communication arrangements to the stranded civilians.
"In addition medical stores, oxygen cylinders, supplies and rations have been airlifted by Army Aviation into the affected areas. As on date 124 civilians, including 31 Bhutanese nationals, 38 Nepalese Nationals and rest Indian tourists have been evacuated from Bharatpur to Sarchu and provided medical aid, shelter, warm clothing and hot meals," said Colonel Kalia.
The defence spokesman said that in addition to this 22 civilians including two Australian nationals present near Sarchu were rescued and provided medical aid. A vehicle cum foot patrol launched from Patsio to Suraj Tal evacuated 95 civilians and brought them to Patsio. They have been provided immediate medical aid, shelter and warm clothing. Army detachments are also clearing the road wherever civilian vehicles have been stuck. |
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