Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday praised the coordinated efforts of multiple rescue agencies involved in safely evacuating 320 people stranded in cable car cabins in Gulmarg, describing the operation as one of the toughest challenges faced by the force.
Addressing teams of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, NDRF, Army and local rescuers, the DGP said he had initially doubted whether the rescue operation could be completed before midnight.
“Honestly speaking, I didn’t believe we could complete the task before midnight. It is a proud moment for me to stand with you,” Prabhat said.
He said personnel from the Gulmarg police station were the first to reach the site and were soon joined by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local rescue teams.
“All of them worked in the most coordinated and professional manner to successfully complete the rescue operation and bring down 320 stranded people,” he said.
Senior police officials, including Special DGP Javaid Mujtaba Gilani, Special DG and Commandant General Home Guards Abdul Ghani Mir and IGP Kashmir V. K. Birdi, were also present during the operation.
Prabhat said rescue efforts in mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions were significantly more challenging than operations conducted on the ground.
“We in J&K Police have always been given the toughest challenges, and we have always successfully completed them,” he said.
The DGP congratulated personnel of Gulmarg Police Station, the Special Operations Group (SOG), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs), SDRF and other agencies for their role in the six-hour-long rescue operation.
“You may be tired, hungry and thirsty, but I am sure all of you are happy because you were given a purpose today and you achieved success,” he said.
Prabhat also announced that every individual involved in the rescue mission would be awarded the DG Commendation Medal in recognition of their bravery and dedication. He added that rescuers who had already received the DG’s commendation certificate would be rewarded through other means, including promotions.
(IANS Inputs)
