12 People Trapped by Chhattisgarh Floods Rescued by IAF Mi-17V5 Helicopter

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter rescued 12 people, including two women and three children, who remained stranded overnight after flooding of the Indravati River in Chhattisgarh, bringing relief to those trapped by rising waters.

The rescue operation was carried out on Saturday by an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter deployed from Jagdalpur after a distress call alerted authorities to the stranded group. The victims had been cut off by the flooding and were unable to reach safety on their own.

The IAF shared a video of the operation on social media platform X, showing personnel winching stranded people up into the helicopter. The footage captured the aircrew’s efforts to evacuate those caught in the flood-hit area, including vulnerable members of the group.

Responding swiftly to the emergency, the helicopter crew brought all 12 people to safety. The operation highlighted the role of military aviation in reaching people trapped by floods and other natural disasters, particularly when access by road or other means becomes difficult.

In its post on X, the IAF said the helicopter had responded to a distress call and rescued the group after they spent the night stranded because of the river’s flooding. It described the mission as a swift response and reaffirmed its commitment to saving lives.

The rescue comes as flooding can leave people isolated in areas where rising river levels make movement dangerous and delay access to emergency assistance. Helicopters such as the Mi-17V5 provide a critical means of evacuation in such situations, allowing rescue teams to reach people in locations that may otherwise be difficult to access.

The successful evacuation of the 12 people brought an end to their overnight ordeal, with the IAF’s aerial intervention helping avert further danger amid the flooding.