Army’s Rapid Rescue Saves 11 Lives in Flood‑Stricken Rajouri, J&K

When the monsoon deluges turned Rajouri’s narrow streams into raging torrents, panic spread fast among villagers who found themselves stranded on muddy banks and tiny islands. Within hours, the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, together with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local administrators, launched a swift rescue operation that would save eleven lives.

The first call came from Churung Village, south of Thanamandi, where nine people – five of them children – were trapped by a swollen nala. Despite fierce currents and a sky that seemed to weep nonstop, soldiers arrived on scene in a matter of minutes. Using inflatable boats and a steady hand, they pulled each person out, one by one, making sure even the youngest were safely lifted onto dry ground.

Almost simultaneously, a separate team from the Engineer Regiment received a distress signal about two youths, aged 17 and 20, marooned on a river island in the Naushera Tawi River near Dhangri, roughly twelve kilometres from Rajouri town. The water was churning, the banks slick, but the engineers didn’t hesitate. They waded through the frothy flow, secured a rope line and guided the stranded boys back to safety. Families were later reunited with their sons amid grateful smiles and a few relieved tears.

What made these rescues possible was more than just manpower; it was the seamless coordination among multiple agencies. The Defence Ministry’s statement highlighted the “courage, professionalism and commitment to humanitarian assistance” that defined the operation. No lives were lost, and the swift action prevented what could have turned into a larger tragedy.

The floods have been merciless elsewhere too, especially in neighboring Poonch, where ten people have already perished in the Bafliaz area and several are still missing. The Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha, inspected the damage early Sunday and urged district officials to provide every possible aid to the affected families. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his trip to New Delhi, returning to Jammu to oversee relief measures firsthand.

As the waters recede, the rescued civilians are receiving basic medical care and shelter, but the memory of that terrifying night lingers. For many, the Army’s presence was more than a uniform – it was a lifeline, a promise that in moments of nature’s fury, help is on the way.