Indian Military Assisting/Helping Civilians

[Hindustani78]

Posted at: Jan 18, 2018, 1:08 AM; last updated: Jan 18, 2018, 1:08 AM (IST)
12 shops, house damaged in Kupwara fire

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/12-shops-house-damaged-in-kupwara-fire/530047.html

Kupwara: At least a dozen shops and a residential house were destroyed in a devastating blaze in Khurhama village of Kupwara district on Tuesday night. Soldiers from the Army’s 18 Rashtriya Rifles and policemen from a nearby post assisted fire officials to bring the fire under control, locals said. The cause of fire was being ascertained, a police official said. The fire broke out around 11:30 pm from a grocery shop and soon engulfed the adjoining shops. “Had the Army and police not reached the spot on time, the raging fire would have destroyed more shops,” Nazir Ahmad, a local resident, said. “A nearby house also caught fire but somehow household items, including bedding and furniture, were saved. Locals assisted the police in fire-extinguishing operations,” he added. oc

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
17-February, 2018 10:08 IST
Casuality Evacuation: Kurgiak Valley

On 16 Feb 18, the ‘Siachen Pioneers’ based at Air Force Station Leh were tasked to undertake a challenging casualty evacuation of three months pregnant, 35 year old, Stanzin Laton, suffering from dysphagia from a remote village known as Kurgiak located in an inaccessible valley short of Shinkun La pass beyond Padam. It was already 1400h in the afternoon and the weather was overcast with all passes covered. Within a very short period of time, the crew assessed the weather, discussed the contingencies and planned the route with maximum fuel to avoid requirement of refuelling.

The formation got airborne within 30 minutes, with Wing Commander SI Khan and Flight lieutenant Pravin in the lead aircraft and Wing Commander SK Pradhan and Squadron Leader A Bedekar as No 2. The weather enroute was marginal and the narrow and turbulent valley, devoid of any force landing fields made the task even more challenging. However, the crew successfully negotiated the valley and reached Padam. And after a quick turnaround servicing the formation got airborne again for Kurgiak which was another 50kms ahead of Padam.

The weather inside the Kurgiak valley was deteriorating with cloud base lowering further. The terrain was completely snow-bound and the fading light due to clouds increased the chances of disorientation. However, the crew located the village successfully. Since, the terrain was snow bound and no clear field was available, the crew chose a site close to the village which was sloping but manageable, and picked up the casualty. Due to high altitude, lack of oxygen coupled with extremely low temperatures, the lady was having difficulty in breathing.

The flight back was even more challenging with the aircraft buffeting in turbulent winds and light fading further. The crew brought all their professionalism to the forefront to successfully negotiate the adverse weather and recovered back at Leh in time, to save the life of the lady and the child in her womb.