The Army has rescued 272 civilians, stranded near the Zojila Pass on the Leh-Srinagar highway for the last three days due to sudden and heavy snowfall in the region.
Official sources said the Drass Brigade swung into action yesterday after its senior officers came to know about the stranded civilians and vehicles.The civil administration with its limited manpower and resources was finding it difficult to rescue them.
The Army said 150-odd vehicles were also brought out of the snow-covered highway at Gumri, just short of Zozila, the pass which connects the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir. The vehicles had been stranded for over three days due to the heavy snowfall and the bad condition of the road between Gumri and Zozila.
“A convoy of military vehicles from Drass was rushed to the spot where a field langar was established and civilians were provided tea and food as they had eaten nothing for long. Truckers complaining of cold were given medical help and kerosene and blankets for the night”, an Army spokesperson said.
To ensure a safe path, the army sent ahead a rescue team comprising one doctor, two nursing assistants, two ambulances,a resuce party carrying food , three heavy recovery vehicles, three dozers, one snow-cutter and one mobile VSAT communication terminal to Matayin and Zojila. Army mechanics were also sent for the help of civilian truckers. The trucks were allowed to pass in groups of eight and a strict vigil was kept to ensure their safety.
The army also provided recovery vehicles to tow away eight heavy vehicles that were blocking the highway.
Official sources said the Drass Brigade swung into action yesterday after its senior officers came to know about the stranded civilians and vehicles.The civil administration with its limited manpower and resources was finding it difficult to rescue them.
The Army said 150-odd vehicles were also brought out of the snow-covered highway at Gumri, just short of Zozila, the pass which connects the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir. The vehicles had been stranded for over three days due to the heavy snowfall and the bad condition of the road between Gumri and Zozila.
“A convoy of military vehicles from Drass was rushed to the spot where a field langar was established and civilians were provided tea and food as they had eaten nothing for long. Truckers complaining of cold were given medical help and kerosene and blankets for the night”, an Army spokesperson said.
To ensure a safe path, the army sent ahead a rescue team comprising one doctor, two nursing assistants, two ambulances,a resuce party carrying food , three heavy recovery vehicles, three dozers, one snow-cutter and one mobile VSAT communication terminal to Matayin and Zojila. Army mechanics were also sent for the help of civilian truckers. The trucks were allowed to pass in groups of eight and a strict vigil was kept to ensure their safety.
The army also provided recovery vehicles to tow away eight heavy vehicles that were blocking the highway.
No comments:
Post a Comment