Indian Army’s Daring Helicopter Rescue Saves 25 from Flood-Hit Madhopur amid Pathankot Floods

The incident occurred as torrential rains over the past 48 hours led to widespread flooding across Pathankot and surrounding areas. Water levels rose rapidly in low-lying regions, inundating residential zones and causing structural damage to several buildings, including the one in Madhopur where the victims were stranded.

Torrential rains across Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh over the last several days drastically raised the water level at the Ranjit Sagar Dam, situated on the Ravi River, on the border of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. The spillway gate and flood gates of the dam were opened, releasing around 110,000 cusecs of water, flooding nearby villages like Makhanpur, Pola, Tas, and Bahadurpur.

The combined effect of heavy rainfall and dam discharge caused the Ravi River to swell significantly. The Ujh and Jalalia rivers also overflowed, severely impacting villages in the Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks of Pathankot district. Compounding the crisis, heavy rains caused a breach in the Jalalia embankment, washing away 30 to 40 feet of road along the Dinanagar–Bamial route, affecting traffic between Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts.

Meanwhile, flooding of the Chakki River, a tributary of the Beas River, washed away sections of an old road bridge on Pathankot’s outskirts. Authorities also blocked one side of the newer bridge on the Jalandhar‑Pathankot Highway as a precautionary measure.

In Sujanpur, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed teams to evacuate residents from submerged areas. The situation remains critical as many homes are flooded and access routes are blocked, complicating relief efforts.

Gurdaspur has been severely impacted, with approximately 400 students and 40 staff members feared trapped at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Daburi village. The school, situated along the Gurdaspur-Dorangla road, has become inaccessible due to severely damaged roads, hampering ongoing rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the #GandivDivision of the #SaptaShaktiCommand promptly launched flood relief operations in Kota, Rajasthan, ensuring timely rescue and essential support for affected residents. Over 200 people were safely relocated from Nimoda Hariji in Digod Tehsil. Vital supplies, including food, water, and medicines, were delivered to those in need, underscoring the coordinated efforts of the Army and disaster management authorities across regions.

The relentless rains, combined with dam water releases and swollen rivers, have created a multi-district flood crisis impacting thousands of lives across Punjab and neighboring states. The Indian Army, NDRF, and other agencies continue to conduct critical rescue operations under challenging conditions, striving to save lives and restore safety to flood-affected communities.