How Did the Army Rescue a Snake-Bite Victim Amid Floods in Amritsar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Indian Army successfully rescued a snake-bite victim.
- Operation Raahat is focused on relief efforts in Punjab.
- Increased snake sightings due to flooding pose health risks.
- Over 3.5 lakh people displaced by floods in Punjab.
- Continuous monitoring of flood damage is crucial.
New Delhi, Sep 5 (NationPress) In a remarkable act of bravery and dedication, the Indian Army's Vajra Corps has successfully rescued a 60-year-old man who was bitten by a snake amidst the devastating floods in the Amritsar district on Friday.
The heroic operation unfolded under 'Operation Raahat' within the Panther Division, which has been actively engaged in relief efforts amidst the flooding.
In a post shared on X, the official Vajra Corps account highlighted, “OpRAAHAT: Care with Compassion. In flood-stricken Gonewala, Amritsar District, Panther Division promptly evacuated a 60-year-old snake-bite victim, provided first aid, and saved a precious life at Ramdas.”
This ongoing relief initiative, dubbed Operation Raahat, underscores the Indian Army's relentless efforts to support local authorities in preserving lives and reducing damage.
The Panther Division is conducting round-the-clock operations, rescuing stranded residents, offering urgent medical assistance, and delivering food and essential supplies to isolated areas.
This recent rescue incident emphasizes the escalating health threats faced by the inhabitants of Punjab's flood-hit regions, where snake encounters and bites have surged due to elevated water levels displacing wildlife. The Army's prompt action ensured the victim received immediate first aid and was stabilized promptly.
Just last week, the Army garnered attention for rescuing a young mother and her newborn trapped in another flooded village, utilizing improvised boats and military vehicles for their safe evacuation.
The Army has deployed 47 units to perform extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations across Punjab and parts of Jammu.
Army Aviation and the Indian Air Force are also contributing to the relief efforts with helicopters, along with engineering and medical teams.
Official reports indicate that 1,902 villages across 35 revenue blocks—approximately 23 percent of Punjab's total—remain inundated, displacing over 3.5 lakh people and resulting in at least 43 fatalities. With around four lakh acres of farmland submerged, farmers are facing significant crop losses, particularly in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts, which have experienced severe devastation.
As the Ravi and Beas rivers continue to swell from unrelenting rainfall upstream, authorities caution that the full scale of the damage will only be assessed once the floodwaters recede.