A defence spokesperson in Jammu said, "On the night of January 22 commanding officer of the 8 Rashtriya Rifles received an SOS from deputy commissioner Doda about eleven employees of the state Public Health Department trapped in snow. The employees had gone to the upper reaches of the avalanche prone Alkhanda village to repair water supply system."
"The PHE employees somehow managed to pass information to their department. This thickly forested area is known to be avalanche prone and their immediate evacuation was necessary to save their lives," the spokesperson added.
"The deputy commissioner therefore immediately contacted the 8 RR unit. Without wasting time, the commanding officer ordered move of 20 men from nearest post at Udyanpur who left at 8.45 pm along with a nursing assistant and emergency life saving medicines."
"They also carried rescue equipment, warm clothes and packaged food for the trapped persons. After walking for more than 7 hours in the chest deep snow, with the help of ropes, the team finally reached the site at 4.00 am. They found five of the trapped workers in extremely critical condition due to the cold effect," the spokesperson said.
"The team immediately took control of the situation, took out the workers, lighted a fire and gave them first aid. They also provided them warm clothes. Tea was prepared and food was warmed for them."
"After two hours the workers could be resuscitated. On daybreak the army men supported these workers through the snow and brought them to village where they were received by a large crowd of villagers," he added.
