EXERCISE mountain rescue conducted by Army

Jalandhar, March 26, 2013: Army conducted a two day major disaster management exercise called Mountain Rescue in aid to civil authorities at the Annandale Ground on March 25-26.   

Major calamities that have struck the Indian sub continent during the last decade have underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional, multi disciplinary and multi sectoral approach to disaster management.  Within the ambit of this approach the armed forces constitute a significant and potent entity available within the central and state governments for disaster response and relief.  The armed forces, by virtue of their organisational strength, motivation, discipline and operational preparedness have always risen to the occasion, earning the appreciation of the environment for their singular contribution towards disaster management.

The aim of the exercise was to practice evacuation of civilian population from the disaster affected areas in the mountains of Himachal.  Army Aviation Corps and Air Force helicopters practiced casualty evacuation drills in conjunction with the Army Special Forces and regular troops of Jutogh battalion.  The exercise was conducted in conjunction with civil administration and fire service department.

The organisational strength of the Army formation and units was in full display during the exercise.  The Army plans to conduct more such exercises in the future to the tune its disaster management response.