Srinagar, March 17 – A marine commando (MARCOS) from the Indian Navy was critically injured during a rescue operation on the Jhelum River in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday and was taken to an army hospital for treatment, officials said.
Officials said that a joint rescue operation was launched in the Uri area of the Baramulla district after a woman jumped into the Jhelum River.
The middle-aged woman, identified as a resident of Lagama, Uri, is reported to have jumped into the river from a wooden footbridge at Chandanwari in Uri.
The incident prompted an immediate search operation by teams from the SDRF Baramulla and the Civil Defence Unit, Uri.
Officials said that the rescue operation was resumed on Tuesday with additional reinforcements, including personnel from the Navy's MARCOS unit.
"During the search operation, one of the MARCOS personnel slipped into the river and was swept away by the current for several minutes before being rescued by his fellow team members. The commando, identified as A.S. Badoria, sustained critical injuries during the incident and was initially unconscious when rescued. He was immediately taken to the Army Hospital in Boniyar for medical treatment.
"The condition of the injured personnel was reported to be critical," an official said.
Meanwhile, search efforts were continuing to trace the missing woman, with rescue teams scanning different parts of the river.
The Indian Navy's special forces, the MARCOS, were originally established in February 1987 as the Indian Marine Special Force, which was later renamed the Marine Commando Force.
They are capable of operating in all types of environments: at sea, in the air, and on land.
The force has gradually gained more experience and an international reputation for professionalism. The MARCOS regularly undertake specialized maritime operations in Jammu and Kashmir through the Jhelum River and the Wular Lake, a 65 square kilometre (16,000 acres) freshwater lake, and conduct counter-insurgency operations in the region.
Some MARCOS units are a part of the tri-services Armed Forces Special Operations Division.
