Search operation for Rudra Helicopter on in Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Aug, 2021 11:10 AM
Chandigarh, Aug 23 (IANS) Search and rescue operations for the Rudra Helicopter that crashed into the Ranjit Sagar reservoir near Pathankot on August 3 continued on Monday.
Indian defence forces have employed the best equipment available in the country to locate the wreckage, which includes remotely operated underwater vehicles, handheld navigation system with sonar, side scanner sonar with echo sensor and portable transducer, divers propulsion vehicle, multi-beam sonar and submarine rescue unit of the India Navy, an official statement said.
In addition, Special Forces Commandos along with the Marcos of the Indian Navy are carrying out diving in the areas being identified through technical means.
To facilitate the operation, the Indian Army has also created a large floating platform from where all diving operations are being executed.
The NDRF, civilians, experts and reservoir authorities have also been incorporated in the search operations.
The Indian Navy has been constantly upscaling and upgrading the equipment being used for this search and salvage operation.
The challenges of operating remotely controlled equipment at a depth where human intervention is not feasible and where the visibility is no more than few inches are being handled by incorporating electronic multi-beam Sonars etc.
The search operations are being spearheaded by a commodore-rank officer who is expert in naval rescue operations along with army officers having expertise in civil engineering aspects.
The search operations are being monitored round the clock by senior officials.
Incessant rains last week coupled with huge volumes of water from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) have led to flood-like situation in seven districts of West Bengal, leaving at least 8 dead and displacing over 3 lakh people from their homes in the last four days.
The government is implementing market information system where the prices of vegetables are collected through Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis and disseminated for its use by the farmers through Agmarknet portal, mobile applications etc. for better price realisation, he said.
Seeking to woo voters ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday announced providing free electricity up to 400 units per month to all households and waiting outstanding power dues of residential bills of 'blue' card holders.
Two Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officers lost their lives during rescue and relief operations in Himachal Pradesh, which is witnessing flash floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall.
In recorded telephonic calls to journalists, the caller identified himself as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and said, We will not allow Jai Ram Thakur to hoist the Indian tricolour. Himachal Pradesh was part of Punjab and we are seeking a referendum in Punjab.
