Six missing people rescued in Kishtwar
Jammu/Anantnag: Six people, who went missing in heavy snowfall earlier this week, have been traced and rescued by police in Kishtwar district on Friday, officials said.
Ajaz Ahmed (30), Akbar (25), Ghulam Nabi (20), Gulzar Ahmed (18), Manzoor Ahmed (20) and Irshad Ahmed (18), all residents of Warwan area in Kishtwar, are safe and their evacuation — after being stuck in snow for three days and three nights — was facilitated by the police, the officials said.
One Wali Mohammed from Anantnag had informed the police in snow-bound Kishtwar that his six relatives, who were going towards Warwan from Anantnag, had got trapped at via Margan Top on Tuesday.
Following this, Kishtwar senior superintendent of police Shafqat Hussain Bhat directed the police to launch a search and rescue operation for their safe evacuation.
Subsequently, the police managed to establish contact with the six people over mobile phone on Friday, the officials said.
The SSP spoke to them and assured them of all necessary assistance, they said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla said that a major rescue effort by joint teams of Mountain Rescue, Army and SDRF was launched early morning on Friday to locate the six persons.
A 28-person joint rescue party of MRT, SDRF, Army personnel along with local guides left Matigawran at 4:45 AM today, said DC Anantnag.
The DC Anantnag had also ordered massive resource mobilisation to clear snow bound areas so that rescue efforts can bear fruit.
Supervising the operations personally, SSP Anantnag Ashish Mishra was in close touch with Army authorities of Sector 2 RR and monitored the rescue operation minutely. The joint efforts by District Administration, District Police, Army and authorities from Kishtwar were instrumental in ensuring that the rescue operation was smooth and the persons reached home safely.
The efforts were implemented on ground by close coordination of SDM Kokernag , SDPO Kokernag and CO 3 RR Larkipora.
Army authorities kept Helicopter on standby for recce of missing persons but due to inclement weather that option could not be exercised and decision to carry out on foot evacuation was taken.
