Daijiworld Media Network - Leh
Leh, Sep 14: Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters rescued four National Cadet Corps (NCC) women cadets participating in the All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek, Aparajita Parang La 2026, in a first-light evacuation mission at an altitude of 18,500 feet.
A defence spokesperson in Leh said the time-critical operation demonstrated the IAF’s professionalism and its role as a first responder during both war and peace.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had flagged off the Aparajita Parang La 2026 expedition in New Delhi on August 18. The flagship NCC adventure activity involves crossing the Parang La Pass at an altitude of 5,578 metres (18,300 feet), connecting Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley with the Changthang region of Ladakh.
The expedition comprises three women officers and 28 girl cadets, with an average age of 19 years. The youngest participant is 16-and-a-half years old.
The 30-day trek covers around 250 km through some of the most remote Himalayan terrain. The route passes through Kibber, Dumla, Thaltak, Bongrojen, Parang La Pass, Dak Karzong, Norbu Sumdo, Kiangdom and Korzok, crossing high-altitude deserts, glaciers, snowfields and river valleys.
The IAF’s 114 Helicopter Unit, also known as the Siachen Pioneers, based at Leh, carried out the rescue under challenging conditions involving low air density and rugged terrain. The absence of a helipad further complicated the operation.
Despite the difficulties, the helicopter crew executed a precise landing and safely evacuated the four cadets to Leh for further medical treatment.
The IAF and Army Aviation Corps regularly undertake rescue and evacuation operations in mountainous areas involving military personnel as well as civilians. The harsh climate and extreme altitude of Ladakh can lead to serious medical emergencies, while civilians may also require evacuation after being stranded by landslides and avalanches or suffering from low oxygen levels and adverse weather.
The 114 Helicopter Unit was raised at Leh in April 1964 and is equipped with Cheetah light helicopters. It is tasked with operations in the Siachen Glacier, where aircraft routinely operate at the limits of their performance in extreme conditions.
The ageing helicopters of the unit operate from rugged and often snowbound terrain at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet. Their duties include air maintenance, supply drops, casualty evacuation and search-and-rescue missions.
The unit has supported Indian Army posts in the Siachen sector since April 1984, when Operation Meghdoot was launched to occupy the glacier. The operation continues to be described as the world’s longest-running military operation.