Guwahati: In a daring operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued 14 people trapped on a small patch of high ground surrounded by the Bomjir River that is in spate along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
Tinsukia district commissioner Swapneel Paul confirmed that the operation was carried out by the IAF on his request on Sunday morning.
“A Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission was undertaken by an Mi-17 helicopter launched from AF Stn Mohanbari of the IAF early in the morning today, in response to a request received from State Administrations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,” the IAF’s Eastern Air Command (EAC) posted on X.
“Acting swiftly, 14 individuals stranded in the middle of the flooded Bomjir river in Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, cut off from main land; were safely rescued to a safe location. The operation was undertaken under challenging weather & terrain conditions,” the EAC further posted.
The district commissioner confirmed that it was a daring operation indeed, given the incessant rain and the land on which the helicopter had to land.
“The trapped individuals were stranded due to rising water levels caused by continuous rainfall in the region. The district administration quickly coordinated with the IAF and Arunachal Pradesh officials to execute the rescue plan,” Paul said.
Sadiya Revenue Circle officer Jaydeep Rajak oversaw the operation. Among those rescues, 13 people were from the Tinsukia district in Assam and the remaining was a resident of Arunachal Pradesh. All the 14 people have been sent back home, the official said.
Paul thanked the IAF for timely intervention, ensuring the safe rescue of the stranded people.
