Latest news with #NavinSachdeva
Mint
7 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Nine Indian Army personnel among 50 missing two days after Uttarkashi flash floods
Two days after flash floods occurred in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand, nearly 60 people, including nine army personnel, are still said to be missing, and 70 people have been rescued so far. The Indian Army said on Thursday its troops reached the worst-hit Dharali village within 15 minutes of the tragedy. It ramped up Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the Himalayan village and nearby Harsil. Seventy civilians have been rescued so far, and more than 50 are missing, the Army said in a statement. According to the district administration, 65 people who were stranded at different locations were airlifted to Matli town, 432 km from Dehradun, on Thursday. Officials said efforts were also stepped up to airlift advanced equipment to the worst-hit Dharali village to speed up the search for those trapped under the rubble. The region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road blockages, including at Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangnani and Dharali. The Indian Army further said nine army personnel – one junior commissioned officer and eight jawans -- are also reported missing. Nine Army personnel and three civilians were evacuated to Dehradun by helicopter. Three critically injured civilians were shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh, and eight were admitted to the Uttarkashi district hospital, it added. The Army also said that civilian and military teams are working around the clock to rescue stranded people, provide relief and restore connectivity. Addressing a press conference, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, Chief of Staff, Central Command, said: 'As first responders, our infantry battalion at Harsil reacted under the commanding officer within 15 minutes of the incident. This was despite some of our personnel themselves being affected. Since then, additional columns have been deployed.' 'Our Special Forces from Agra in AN 32 and C 295 aircraft have been flown (in) and medical personnel with all required equipment and accessories have been moved,' he added.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IIT Kanpur to develop avalanche victim detection system for Army
Lucknow: To enhance safety of soldiers in high-altitude and glaciated regions, the 's Central Command has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT-Kanpur to develop an Auto-Luminescent Avalanche Victim Detection System (AAVDS). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The collaboration was formalized under Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Surya Command. The alliance intends to harness homegrown technological prowess to create an advanced system designed to swiftly detect and pinpoint the location of soldiers buried beneath avalanche snow. AAVDS will feature a luminating liquid, deployed from a compact device worn by soldiers, which marks their location in the snow— drastically reducing rescue time and increasing survival chances. Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, commenting on the partnership, described it as a pivotal moment in leveraging indigenous innovation to equip the armed forces with cutting-edge tools for rescuing avalanche victims in challenging high-altitude zones. He emphasized the strategic importance of this technological leap. Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, Chief of Staff of Surya Command, underscored the initiative's reflection of the Indian Army's dedication to achieving self-reliance in defence technology, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of troops in extreme environments. Subramany, a senior professor and project lead at IIT Kanpur, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting it as a prime opportunity for local research bodies to directly uplift the Indian Army's capabilities. He reaffirmed IIT Kanpur's commitment to spearheading more transformative projects ahead. The project's oversight will be handled by an Ordnance Maintenance Company under the Central Command's headquarters, led by Lt Col Piyush Dhariwal. Beyond military use, the technology holds promise for civilian applications, offering enhanced safety for mountaineers and adventure enthusiasts in avalanche-prone regions.
