CHENNAI: The Indian Army has mobilized four columns of personnel on standby to assist with rescue and relief efforts in the severely impacted Union Territory of Puducherry. According to a defense release issued on Tuesday, two of these columns, drawn from the Dakshin Bharat Area of the Indian Army, initiated their rescue operations in the flood-affected regions of Puducherry starting December 1.
Additionally, another column from the Madras Engineers Group based in Bengaluru, which consists of 66 members, has arrived in Chennai early this morning, armed with essential relief materials. These resources will be deployed to Puducherry as needed.
On the ground, a joint reconnaissance mission was conducted this morning involving civil administration officials, column commanders from the Indian Army, and representatives from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Following this assessment, the two Army columns from the Dakshin Bharat Area, which have been active for the past two days, have been dedicated to ongoing rescue operations.
The first operational column, led by Major Ajay Kumar Sangwan and comprising 61 Army personnel, has been dispatched to Kambalikaran, located in the Kuppam area of Embalam. In parallel, the second column, under the command of Major Solar Mani Pradhan, is focused on rescuing stranded individuals in Karaiyamputhur, an area near Bahour.
In a move aimed at ensuring optimal coordination during the operations, the Commanding Officer of the Indian Army’s 16-Madras Corps is present in Puducherry, closely liaising with civil administration officials and overseeing the ongoing rescue missions.
Since the commencement of the operations, more than 1,000 stranded individuals have been successfully evacuated by Indian Army personnel. Rescues have taken place across severely affected neighborhoods including Krishna Nagar, Kuber Nagar, Jiva Nagar, and NR Nagar in Puducherry. The Indian Army remains committed to providing support and ensuring the safety of those affected by the flooding.
