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Indian Army executes high-risk night rescue of South Korean nationals at 17,000 ft in Ladakh

New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) In a daring late-night operation on September 4, the Indian Army Aviation carried out a high-altitude casualty evacuation mission to rescue two South Korean nationals stranded at Kongmaru La Pass in Ladakh.

At 8:05 P.M., the Army received an urgent message requesting evacuation of Hyun Woo Kim, a citizen of South Korea, and his wife, stranded at Kongmaru La Pass in Ladakh at an altitude of over 17,000 feet.

The snow-laden terrain and razor-sharp ridgelines made the mission exceptionally challenging.

With no time to lose, the Army Aviation helicopter squadron was mobilised by 8:20 P.M.

The task required a precision landing using Night Vision Goggles (NVG) at an unprepared helipad — a feat demanding extraordinary skill and composure from the aircrew.

Braving icy winds, reduced visibility, and near-zero margin for error, the pilots guided their aircraft to the designated spot, touching down at around 9:15 P.M.

The swift landing and extraction under such hostile conditions underscored the unmatched training and professionalism of the squadron.

The South Korean couple was quickly airlifted to safety and handed over to medical authorities for immediate treatment.

This rescue mission reflects a textbook display of courage, coordination, and precision under extreme duress, highlighting the Army’s readiness to respond to emergencies, even in the harshest of environments.

The daring operation not only reaffirmed the Indian Army’s operational capabilities in high-altitude regions but also carried strong humanitarian undertones, showcasing India’s commitment to aiding foreign nationals in distress.

For the Army Aviation wing, the successful NVG rescue in Ladakh adds another feather to its illustrious record of high-risk missions in some of the world’s most unforgiving terrains.

It is worthy to note here that although the Indian Army’s primary role is to safeguard the borders and to give a befitting reply to the nation’s enemies in any critical or warlike situation but the Indian Army is among the first to help stranded citizens in any such situation, irrespective of their nationality.

Notably, at a time when the northern part of India including Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir is witnessing floods which have created havoc, the Indian Army is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the other concerned agencies and is providing critical humanitarian assistance, from delivering food via helicopters and drones, evacuating people and giving them medical assistance.

–IANS

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Two missing, 7 rescued after vehicle falls into river in J&K’s Poonch

Jammu, Feb 28 (IANS) At least two persons went missing while seven others were rescued after a passenger vehicle dropped into a river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

The accident happened on Thursday evening. Police said the taxi was going from Poonch town to Surankote when it went out of the driver’s control at Kalai Bridge and plunged into the river around 8.30 p.m.

Led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Poonch, Shafqat Hussain, a rescue operation was started immediately after the news of the accident was received.

Seven people, including four women, were rescued. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Two persons were swept away by the river, and the operation to locate them is going on. The river is presently in spate following heavy rainfall in the area”, police said.

In another road accident in the same district, a truck driver was killed after he lost control of the wheel, and his vehicle rolled down the mountainside in the Chang village of Bufliaz in the Poonch district. Police said this accident also occurred on Thursday.

Most rivers and mountain streams are in spate after incessant rain in the Jammu division during the last two days. Heavy snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir during the last 24 hours, and rain lashed the plain areas of the Jammu division.

Light snowfall also occurred in Srinagar city and other plain areas of the Valley during the last 12 hours. Gulmarg ski resort recorded 1.5 ft of fresh snowfall during this period, while Zojila Pass, Gurez and Razdan Pass recorded 4 ft of fresh snowfall on the ground.

Authorities closed the Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh and the Mughal road due to heavy rain/snow during the last 24 hours.

The Meteorological (MeT) office says the same weather conditions will continue on Friday. Authorities had postponed the ‘Khelo India 2025-winter sports in Gulmarg’ due to scant snowfall in the ski resort. The fresh snowfall on the ski slopes in Gulmarg indicates that winter sports would be announced sooner than later.

–IANS

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Six killed in highway crash involving SUV, bus, truck in Karnataka

Vijayapura (Karnataka), May 21 (IANS) A tragic road accident involving an SUV, a bus, and a truck resulted in the death of six people in the Vijayapura district of Karnataka on Wednesday.

According to police, five people died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The deceased have been identified as Basavaraja Rathod, a bus driver; T. Bhaskar, a bank manager; his family members Pavithra, Abhiram, and Jotsna; and the car driver, Vikas Mani, a resident of Horthi village.

The accident occurred near Managooli town, close to Basavana Bagewadi in Vijayapura district, on National Highway 50.

Bhaskar’s family, hailing from Telangana, was returning after visiting tourist spots in coastal and southern Karnataka. The SUV was heading towards Vijayapura when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to jump the highway divider and collide with a private bus coming from the opposite direction.

Following the collision, the bus driver also lost control, and the vehicle rammed into a parked container truck on the roadside. The bus driver sustained serious injuries and later died at the hospital.

Fortunately, none of the passengers on the bus were injured in the accident. A 10-year-old boy who was travelling in the car had a miraculous escape and is currently being treated at the hospital.

The deceased Bhaskar was employed as a manager at Canara Bank in Horthi village in Vijayapura district. The private bus involved in the accident was on its way from Mumbai to Ballari. The passengers were later sent to their destination in another vehicle.

Senior officers, including Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi, visited the spot. Managooli police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.

On May 12, in two separate tragic road accidents, five people lost their lives in Chitradurga district and Hosakote town near Bengaluru, Karnataka.

In the first incident, three people, including a woman, were killed in a head-on collision between an Innova car and a truck near the Kanive Anjaneya temple on the national highway in the morning in Chitradurga. The impact of the collision left the car mangled beyond recognition.

In another incident in the early hours, two persons were killed and another was critically injured in a collision between a tempo and a two-wheeler at Chikkahullur village in Hoskote taluk, Bengaluru Rural district.

According to police, an overspeeding tempo hit the motorcycle, resulting in the tragedy.

Preliminary investigations suggest that overspeeding and negligent driving by the tempo driver caused the accident. Further investigation is underway.

On May 8, in two separate tragic road accidents in Karnataka, nine people, including three minors, lost their lives while one person was in a critical condition in Haveri and Bagalkot districts, an official said.

–IANS

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