The Indian Army organised an Iftar party for Muslim residents of Draba village in Surankote, Poonch district, on Wednesday evening. The event, arranged by the Sarla Battalion of the KG brigade, saw participation from residents of Karmarha, Gulpur, and Kasalian villages as well as army personnel who gathered to break the fast together.
On March 16, the Indian Army conducted a rescue operation for 235 civilians and 38 vehicles stranded at Sinthan Top in the Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir due to heavy snowfall and severe weather. The White Knight Corps carried out rapid rescue efforts amidst challenging terrain and continuous snowfall.
Rescue teams arrived at Sinthan Top on Sunday and provided hot food, drinking water, and shelter to the stranded civilians, the White Knight Corps said. Repair crews restored mobility to stranded vehicles, while passengers from unrecoverable vehicles were safely evacuated. Medical teams offered assistance and essential medicines as needed.
The operation was completed successfully, with all civilians and vehicles brought to safety. The mission demonstrated seamless coordination between the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), reaffirming the Indian Army’s dedication to protecting lives under harsh conditions, the White Knight Corps added.
Earlier in January, the Indian Army rescued 29 tourists stranded in North Sikkim amid severe weather. On the night of January 27-28, gale-force winds and continuous snowfall trapped vehicles along narrow mountain roads. Several vehicles were buried in snow while others experienced mechanical failures due to sub-zero temperatures.
The group included young children and senior citizens, exacerbating the situation. With temperatures well below freezing, thin mountain air caused dangerously low oxygen levels, resulting in multiple cases of acute mountain sickness and respiratory distress among the tourists.
On arrival, Army medical teams initiated relief measures, providing supplemental oxygen and continuous monitoring to those affected by altitude-related illnesses.