Jammu, Jan 27 (NationPress) The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully rescued a total of 60 individuals, comprising 40 soldiers from the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), from a snow-encased region in the Doda district of J&K, according to a statement from a defence spokesperson on Tuesday.

“The BRO executed a remarkable high-altitude rescue and road restoration mission under Project Sampark at the Chatergala Pass, located at an elevation of 10,500 feet in the Bhaderwah-Chatergala corridor,” the spokesman reported.

The operation commenced on January 24, just a day following a heavy snowfall lasting nearly 40 hours, enabling the clearing of about 38 kilometers of road buried under five to six feet of snow. By the evening of January 25, the route was reopened, facilitating the safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 personnel from the 4 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), along with their equipment and supplies.

The mission was concluded by the early hours of January 26 with no casualties reported, highlighting the professionalism of BRO personnel who operated in challenging high-altitude conditions amidst severe weather, the spokesperson added.

This operation was carried out in close cooperation with the Army, ensuring rapid relief and the restoration of essential communication channels in the region.

“The BRO remains dedicated to enhancing infrastructure resilience, operational readiness, and providing humanitarian aid in some of the most difficult terrains across the nation, reaffirming its motto – ‘Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam’,” a defence statement noted.

Established under the Ministry of Defence, the BRO is responsible for the development and maintenance of road networks in India's border regions and allied neighbouring countries. This includes infrastructure projects across 19 states and three Union Territories, as well as in neighbouring nations like Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.

Since its founding in 1960, the BRO has constructed over 64,100 kilometers of roads, 1,179 bridges, seven tunnels, and 22 airfields in border areas and allied nations.

In addition to these operations, the BRO has also been engaged in snow clearance tasks, having restored connectivity on strategic roads in the Kandi-Kotranka area of the Rajouri district, according to the spokesperson.

“After a period of heavy snowfall in the Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal region on Tuesday, the BRO initiated rapid and sustained snow clearance efforts to restore crucial road connectivity. Snow accumulation, reaching up to three feet, had disrupted traffic along a vital road segment in the Pir Panjal region, isolating the Kandi-Kotranka sub-division from Rajouri town.”

“The heavy snowfall had impeded both military and civilian movement, including critical medical emergency services. Despite significant operational challenges, BRO personnel from the 110 RCC of 31 BRTF under Project Sampark executed continuous day and night operations, utilizing specialized snow clearance equipment and manpower. Their concerted efforts initially opened a single-lane road, allowing for controlled vehicle movement,” the spokesperson stated.

“This swift action restored traffic within 14 hours, including the transport of emergency and essential services. Clearance and widening operations persisted relentlessly, with the road further expanded to ensure a safer and smoother passage. A total distance of approximately 35 kilometers was cleared and restored within 24 hours,” the spokesperson concluded.