IAF rescues 53 from snowbound villages in Jammu region

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Thursday rescued 53 people stranded in snow-bound villages of hilly Kishtwar district in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said

"130 Helicopter Unit - 'The Condors', stationed at Jammu yet again within a week undertook a demanding operation of rescuing 53 stranded people from the inaccessible villages of Kishtwar district today (Thursday)," the spokesman said

"Braving snow and extreme cold conditions, IAF's MI-17 chopper in assistance with the local administration airlifted the people where they had been trapped for the past one week," he said, adding the operation was carried out by Squadron Leader Shailesh Singh and co-pilot, Flight Lt. Shishir Tewari.

"Though the crew had to wait to get airborne due to poor weather conditions in the Valley and forward areas since morning, the aircraft finally took off at 11.30 a.m. in marginal weather conditions and continued with the operations till the last light of the day in the freezing temperature of minus 6 degree Celsius..", he said.

Earlier this week, the IAF had rescued another 72 people stranded in snow bound areas of the same district.