Leh: Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday rescued 50 trekkers, including 9 foreign nationals, who were the part of ongoing “Chaddar Trek” got stranded when some portions of the frozen Zanskar River melted in Ladakh.
The melting caused the flow of the water to become too strong, for the trekkers to continue across the river on foot, an IAF official said.
The stranded trekkers managed to move to Niraq, a small camp site upstream and were awaiting to be rescued.
To carry out a rescue by helicopters, a makeshift helipad was prepared along the river bank.
Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) were immediately pressed into action from Air Force Station.
IAF’s helicopters have rescued 107 individuals during the last two days.
The rescued trekkers include one male and one female from France and four male and three females from People’s Republic of China, who as per the information were rescued from Padum.
IAF will continue the ongoing rescue operation till all the stranded trekkers, guides and porters are evacuated and brought to safety, IAF Spokesperson Gp Capt Anupam Banerjee said.
Additionally, in order to provide medical facilities to the stranded trekkers a medical officer and a medical assistant were also flown from AF Stn Leh to Niraq.
The team has setup a medical assistance camp at Niraq and are providing basic medical assistance to the stranded trekkers.
The operations were undertaken by IAF in close coordination with Ladakh’s newly formed Civil Administration, nearby Indian Army units and local Disaster Relief Teams.
