Air Force rescues 2 US NRI women stranded in Sirmaur forests in Himachal
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TNR Desk
Two NRI women tourists, both US residents, were rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) team after they got stranded in the dense forests of Teesri village en route to the Churdhar tracking route in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
The IAF pressed into service a helicopter and the rescue operation was launched around 6.30 am on Saturday (May 11, 2024). The US tourists, who had embarked on their journey last Friday, encountered trouble in the Teesri terrain. One of the women sustained a spinal injury, rendering her unable to navigate the challenging climb.
The authorities concerned were alerted when the Nohradhar police received distress signals from the duo at 4 pm on Friday. Acting swiftly, a team from the State Disaster Response Force joined the rescue operation, reaching Teesri at 5 am.
The Sirmaur district administration had received reports of the stranded tourists and immediately mobilised a coordinated response involving multiple agencies, including the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, and local officials. Discussions with IAF officials late into the night culminated in arrangements being made for an airlift early this morning.
The NRIs were identified as Richa Abhay Sonawane (44) and Sonia Rattan (46). Both were located about 10 km beyond the base camp by the district administration. Sonia required immediate medical attention.
Post-rescue, the two women were transported to Chandigarh for necessary medical attention. Meanwhile, the local authorities have issued a stern warning to tourists, urging them to inform the administration before embarking on such treks and to stick to designated routes.
