Armed Forces to the rescue in J&K

BANGALORE: More than 100 persons were rescued and shifted from the Gulabgarh region where over 800 kg of food grains was dropped on Tuesday as the weather worsened in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian army officials, currently deployed in the state said that six among those rescued were seriously ill and have been shifted to a hospital in Jammu. The 130 Helicopter squadron of MI-17 helicopters, based in Jammu, has deployed all available resources for such operations.“Search and rescue operations in the Kishtwar region has increased as the place is accessible only by foot,” officials informed and added that the number of sorties have also considerably increased.With services in both Jammu and Srinagar airports disrupted due to the inclement weather, the armed forces deployed there have been spearheading such operations, officials said.The Srinagar airport was, however, opened for a few hours to ensure movement of supplies for over two days. The IAF on January 9 had also carried out operations to re-connect the valley as    all BSNL communication lines had been affected. IAF personnel carried equipment to the Banihal region which is located centrally between Srinagar and Jammu to restore communications. Also, the armed forces have pursued efforts to restore power lines and transport networks. Earlier, more than four tonnes of food was dropped in Reasi district and over 20 people had been rescued. Rescue operations which account for a considerable portion of the armed forces during peace time has seen considerable efforts by both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) as the state faces harsher weather in the next few days.