Indian Army rescues stranded CRPF personnel, civilians near Madhopur Headworks as heavy rains batter Punjab

The Indian Army Aviation evacuated 22 CRPF personnel and three civilians who were stranded near Madhopur Headworks (Punjab) since Tuesday (August 26, 2025). Madhopur Headworks — a barrage on the Ravi river in Madhopur in Pathankot — has been flooded because of rising water levels in the Ravi, Ujh and Jalalian rivers following the release of water from the Ranjit Sagar dam.

Incessant rainfall and swollen rivers submerged many villages and low-lying areas in Punjab, prompting massive relief and rescue operations in several districts.

Army Aviation helicopters were launched to carry out rescue operations at 6 a.m. on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) despite challenging conditions, the Army said in a statement.

“All stranded individuals were safely evacuated and brought to safety,” the statement said.

The building where the CRPF personnel and civilians were sheltered in collapsed soon after their evacuation, the Army said, highlighting the urgency of this operation.

“This successful operation once again reflects the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and its ability to respond promptly in crisis situations. The synergy between Indian Army and local authorities ensured that a potential tragedy was averted,” the Army statement added.

The flood-situation has turned grim in Punjab after the water levels in Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets rose following heavy rains in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, inundating large swathes of farmland and villages along these rivers.

The release of surplus water from the Pong, Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams have also compounded the woes of villages in several districts of Punjab, as they fear massive crop damage.

The worst-affected villages are in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur districts.

(with PTI inputs)