72 people trapped in Kishtwar snow rescued

As many as 72 persons trapped in snow-hit Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir were rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Braving extreme cold weather, IAF's MI-17 helicopter airlifted the 72 persons from remote parts of the district yesterday where they had been trapped for the past two days, a defence spokesman said today.

The operation was carried out under the captainship of Sqn Ldr Shailesh Singh and co-pilot Flight Lieutenant Ashutosh Khanduri of the IAF's 130 Helicopter Unit in assistance with the local administration of Kishtwar, the spokesman said, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commended their operations.