1.    Northern Command is deployed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and has earned the reputation of the ‘People’s Army’. It has played a vital role in assisting civil administration and providing humanitarian assistance during various natural calamities. It has undertaken numerous rescue and relief operations to provide succor to people affected by natural disasters including floods and earthquake. Some of the important relief operations carried out by Northern Command are enumerated in succeeding paras.

2.    Operation RAHAT.    Snow Tsunami occurred in 19 February 2005 in South Kashmir in which 100 people were killed and numerous families got displaced. Indian Army alongwith civil administration, rescued a large number of families and moved them to safer places.

3.    Operation IMDAD.    An earthquake measuring 7.6 on Richter Scale occurred near Muzzafarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on 08 October 2005 engulfing a large number of Kashmiri Population. More than 7,000 people reported to have died, with addl77,000 injured and approximately     2.8 million displaced. Despite loss of 45 of its personnels, severe injuries to 83 and significant damage to infra, Indian Army swiftly assumed the role of primary agency for rescue and relief efforts. 52 columns comprising 2,600 troops, 39 medical teams, 31 tons of medicines&specialised mountaineering eqpt were mobilised. 40 relief camps were set, 1,200 civilians rescued, 6,000 civil patients treated, 150 tons of ration and 10,000 food packets distributed.

4.    Operation Cloud Burst.    Ladakh floods occurred due to a cloud burst on 06 August 2010. 71 towns and villages were damaged including the main town area of Leh. Approximately 250 people died in the cloud burst. Indian Army launched a massive rescue operation under ‘Operation Cloud Burst’. Over 6,000 security persons were deployed for the rescue operation.

5.    Operation MeghRahat.   In September 2014, J&K witnessed severe floods due to incessant rains. Operation MeghRahat was launched by Northern Command with effect from 02 September to 19 September 2014. Army was deployed to conduct search, rescue & relief operations. 30,000 troops were deployed and approximately 2,00,000 people were rescued.

6.    Numerous operations of smaller scale launched by tps on ground almost on a daily basis have resulted in saving precious lives during adverse weather conditions every year.