DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Oct 24
Udhampur, 24 October 2025:
In a remarkable display of compassion and commitment to public welfare, the Indian Army organised a comprehensive medical camp at Punara village in Basantgarh, Udhampur district, under the aegis of Operation Sadbhavana. The initiative exemplified the Army’s enduring ethos of service, humanity, and goodwill towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas. The medical outreach was undertaken in response to the recent heavy rains that had severely affected connectivity in the region. The resulting landslides and road blockages left several villages, including Punara, cut off from basic healthcare facilities. Recognising the urgent need for medical support, Army doctors and healthcare personnel from a nearby unit mobilised to reach the isolated hamlet, carrying essential medical supplies, diagnostic tools, and emergency medicines.
The camp drew a large turnout of villagers, including women, children, and the elderly, who had been facing difficulty in accessing routine healthcare due to the prolonged disruption. Over the course of the camp, Army medical officers provided free consultations, treatment, and distribution of medicines to patients suffering from ailments such as fever, respiratory infections, skin diseases, and joint pain-common in the hilly terrain and during the post-monsoon season. In addition to providing treatment, the team conducted awareness sessions on hygiene, nutrition, preventive healthcare, and first aid, educating residents about the importance of sanitation, clean drinking water, and timely vaccination. The initiative not only addressed immediate medical concerns but also equipped the villagers with knowledge to better manage their health in the long run.
The humanitarian outreach received an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community. Villagers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army for reaching them in their time of need, especially when movement to nearby hospitals had become impossible. Many lauded the Army’s consistent efforts under Operation Sadbhavana, which has for years served as a bridge of trust between the security forces and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Army officials present at the camp reiterated that the well-being of local communities remains a top priority for the Indian Army. They emphasized that initiatives like these are not just medical missions but also symbols of solidarity and partnership with the people. “The Army stands with the Awaam (people) not only in times of security challenges but also in times of humanitarian need,” one officer noted.
Operation Sadbhavana, launched by the Indian Army in the 1990s, continues to be a flagship initiative focused on promoting peace, development, and welfare across the Union Territory. Under its banner, the Army regularly organises medical camps, educational support programmes, skill development workshops, and infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life in remote regions.
The successful conduct of the medical camp at Punara once again reflected the Army’s dual role-as both the defender of the nation’s frontiers and a steadfast pillar of support for its citizens. By extending a healing hand to those in need, the Indian Army continues to uphold its noble spirit of “Service Before Self,” fostering goodwill, trust, and hope among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
