Army Provides Food To Migrant Labourers In J&K's Poonch Amid Heavy Snowfall, Cold

Hundreds of migrant labourers were provided cooked food and winter clothing by the army amid biting cold and heavy snowfall in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Sunday.

The army went beyond the call of duty and provided assistance in the form of cooked food for the migrant labourers in Mendhard area, the spokesman said.

Essential items including winter clothing, gloves and blankets were also distributed, the spokesman said.

He said Mendhar Gunners have been doing this for the last three days despite bad weather and heavy snowfall.

They are going to nearby villages and extending helping hand to the villagers, the spokesman said, adding this humane gesture has been highly appreciated by all.

The spokesman said amid third wave of COVID-19 coupled with harsh winters and heavy snowfall, the army is not only guarding the borders but also facilitating the citizens.

Separately, the officials said army troops evacuated two pregnant women from Saujiyan in Poonch and Khari in Ramban district despite heavy snowfall.

A distress call from Mohd Akram of Saujiyan, regarding pregnancy-related complications of his wife Rafika Begum was received and despite inclement weather conditions, heavy snow and lack of clear road, troops carried out timely evacuation from Saujiyan till Khet for 5 km in late night hours, the officials said.

They said the patient was attended to by a lady medical officer of the army at her unit and later coordinated her evacuation with a gynaecologist to sub-district hospital Mandi.

Similarly, another pregnant woman was evacuated from snow-bound Khari to Ramban district hospital by the troopers, the officials said.