A Korean couple and a retired Army Major General were among 590 people rescued by Chandigarh- based 12 Wing of the Indian Air Force, which has been conducting non-stop sorties during the past three days to evacuate people from flooded areas of Srinagar.
While 310 people were rescued earlier, including the Korean couple and retired Army officer S K Dhiman, a batch of 80 people was rescued this morning, while 200 others were flown here by the IAF this evening from Srinagar.
The Korean couple and the Army officer were on excursion to Srinagar while others had gone to the Valley for various reasons. Some were migrant labourers.
Among those rescued, some needed immediate medical attention for various ailments.
Fateh Mohammed was among ten patients who were brought here from Srinagar in a critical condition yesterday, Group Capt Sameer Bhalla, Station Commander 12 Wing said today.
A large number of those rescued hail from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. They were evacuated from Srinagar by the Chandigarh-based IL-76 squadron of the IAF.
"The 12 Wing has opened a relief camp at Chandigarh Air Force Station and the rescued persons are being extended medical facilities and food. With the help from Chandigarh administration, we are also arranging transportation for their onward journey by bus and rail," he said.
He said both the squadrons of 12 Wing -- 48 Squadron (AN-32) and 44 Squadron (IL-76) -- have been conducting non-stop sorties during the past three days to provide assistance in the relief and rescue operations.
Air Force planes from Chandigarh have also flown NDRF, Army and Air Force personnel to the flood-affected areas in Kashmir, which has witnessed worst floods in decades.
The giant transport aircraft IL-76 has airlifted close to 100 tonne of load.
