Ejaz-ul-haq Bhat
Dawar : Battalion of Snow Leopard Brigade airlifted more than 100 stranded civilians including critically ill patients and elderly people from Gurez.
The Gurez Valley is presently cut off from Kashmir since early November due to unprecedented heavy snowfall.
A large number of locals are stranded as the early snowfall this year came as a surprise.
In a statement Snow Leapord said that On 26 Jan, Dawar Garrison of the Indian Army received an urgent request from civil administration for early evacuation of serious patients and other civilians.
“The Army and Air Force in a joint effort evacuated 27 females, 81 males and six children including three critical patients from Dawar and Sonarwani Helipads of Indian Army.”
“The helipad at Dawar was made operational despite heavy snow cover in record time. The army also provided necessary succour and administrative support in the cold weather conditions at the helipads. The three critically ill patients were stabilised by the Medical Officer of the Dawar Battalion at the Helipad before they could be evacuated by air,” the spokesman said.
“The early closure of Razdhan pass and associated roads has led to multiple administrative problems and created panic among the locals.”
“The triggering of large number of avalanches has further added to their agony. The locals thanked the Commander, Snow Leopard Brigade for the repeated support extended to the people of Gurez time and again.”
