Uttarakhand glacier incident: Army rushed for rescue operation

New Delhi, Feb 7 : After a glacier broke off in Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, the Army has been pressed into service to carry out rescue operations in flood-affected areas, official sources said on Sunday.
The government has asked the Army to help district administration and disaster teams of the central and state government in their rescue operations. Further, Indian Air Force assets, both fixed wing as well as rotary, are on standby to provide all possible assistance to the affected persons.
Troops have been moved towards the flood-affected areas in Dhauliganga, where the massive flood occurred after the glacier broke.
The Army aviation wing has also been pressed into service to carry out an aerial survey and evacuate trapped people. “One advance light helicopter and two Cheetah helicopters are evacuating persons in the area,” an Army official said.
Four columns of around 400 personnel of the Army have been moved to flood-affected areas, the official added.
“Indian Air Force C-130 and AN-32 aircraft are being used to airlift National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel,” said a senior IAF official.