India, Aug. 30 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has escalated its flood relief and rescue operations in northern India, focusing primarily on the severely affected Jammu and Punjab regions.

Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters have conducted more than 55 sorties to extract stranded civilians, including personnel from the Indian Army and Border Security Force, from inundated areas in Dera Baba Nanak, Pathankot, and Akhnoor sectors, an official statement said.

The operations have enabled the rescue of 215 individuals and delivered 7,300 kgs of essential relief material in the affected areas in the past three days.

Current efforts are concentrated in Northern Punjab, where the situation remains most critical due to continuing high water levels, whi...