New Delhi: The Indian Army on Saturday rescued around 2,500 tourists, including women and children, from India-China border in Sikkim's Nathu La after they got stuck there due to heavy snowfall.

“300 to 400 civil vehicles were stranded near 17 Mile carrying over 2500 tourists who were returning after visiting Nathu La Pass along the Indo-China border. The Indian Army immediately swung into action to provide rescue and relief to the stranded tourists including food, shelter, warm clothing and medicines,” said the official, according to ANI.

However, this is not the first heroic deed of the Indian Army. Here is a list of other rescue operations by the Army which the nation can be proud of.

1. Operation Madad

During the devastating Kerala floods of 2018, the Indian Army rescued more than 23,000 people from the region as a part of its "Operation Madad".

The Army also provided medical aid to over 2,000 people, restored connectivity at 42 locations, constructed 15 temporary bridges and cleared 22 landslides during the deluge.

The Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force worked with the Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) relentlessly for ‘Operation Madad’.

2. Mission Sahayata and Operation Megh Rahat

During the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir floods, "Mission Sahayata" and "Operation Megh Rahat" were launched to carry out rescue operations and provide relief to people stranded in the region. 

"Indian Army will not move back to the barracks till the last man is brought to safety", said General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff.

Twenty-three aircraft of IAF, 26 helicopters, six teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 200 marcos commandos of the Indian Navy rescued tens of thousands of people from the flooded regions.

3. Operation Lehar

Indian Army launched “Operation Lehar” in 2014 to rescued people after Cyclone Hudhud battered the Andhra coast. The Navy took the lead in the rescue operations.

4. Operation Rahat

The Indian Air Force launched “Operation Rahat” during the 2013 Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand floods and managed to rescue 19,600 people and provide 3,82,400 kg of relief material

5. Operation Black Tornado

During the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, the National Security Guard commandos launched “Operation Black Tornado” and managed to rescue 300 and 250 hostages from Taj and Oberoi hotels respectively.