JAMMU — The Army on Monday used a helicopter to retrieve the body of a flash flood victim that had remained trapped among rocks in the middle of a swollen river for more than 20 hours, officials said.
The body, later identified as that of 20-year-old Mohammad Javed, was first spotted in the fast-flowing Munawar Tawi River in the Nowshera area Sunday evening, prompting a joint operation by the police, SDRF and local volunteers.
Despite repeated efforts, rescuers were unable to recover the body because of strong currents and rising water levels, making it unsafe to reach the location safely, they said.
With all ground-based efforts failing, the Army pressed a helicopter into service following a requisition by the district administration.
In a carefully coordinated aerial operation, the body was successfully retrieved from the river, bringing the prolonged rescue mission to an end, the officials said.
They said the deceased had reportedly been washed away during recent flash floods. Police later shifted the body for legal formalities, including postmortem.
The helicopter-assisted operation highlighted the Army’s crucial role in carrying out difficult rescue missions in hazardous terrain and adverse weather conditions where conventional methods prove ineffective, officials said.
Javed went missing from his rented accommodation in the Malik Market area of Rajouri, which witnessed flash floods early Sunday. So far, three bodies, including that of Javed, have been retrieved. A search is underway for a missing Jal Shakti Employee. — (PTI)