Indian Army launches ‘Operation Rahat’ for flood relief & restoration efforts in North India.

Under Operation Rahat, the Indian Army’s Western Command has stepped up its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations across the severely flood-affected regions of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, demonstrating rapid mobilization and inter-agency coordination amid the crisis.

      - Over the past two weeks, the Army executed 82 HADR missions, deploying 59 columns including 17 Engineer Task Forces, facilitating the evacuation of over 6,000 civilians, including approximately 300 paramilitary force personnel.

      - The Army provided medical assistance to over 13,000 individuals, including critical emergency evacuations, while deploying both ground and aerial channels to deliver essential supplies—medicines, potable water, and 48 tonnes of rations—to inaccessible areas.

      - Army and Air Force assets—comprising 3 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), 6 MI-17s, 6 Cheetahs and 1 Chinook helicopter—logged over 250 hours of sorties. Concurrently, the Army coordinated with the civil administration, NDRF, and SDRF, establishing Flood Control and Water Level Monitoring Cells at key dam sites to aid in early warning and infrastructure rebuilding.

Main Point :-   (i) Over 13,000 citizens received medical care, and more than 48 tonnes of relief supplies were distributed, showcasing the scale and intensity of relief operations.

      (ii) A fleet of 16 helicopters across multiple variants executed 250+ hours of flight time, enabling wide reach and rapid response in rugged terrain.

(iii) The establishment of round-the-clock Flood Control and Water Level Monitoring Cells at headquarters and major dams—such as Bhakra Nangal and Ranjit Sagar—coupled with the deployment of engineering teams, underpinned timely infrastructure restoration and disaster containment.
About Indian Army