An Indian Air Force helicopter crew rescued 12 civilians stranded near the Indravati river in Chhattisgarh. The group included women and children. They had been stranded in makeshift huts near Dongaghat village on the river's north bank.

The stranded group had gathered on the rooftop of a kutcha hut surrounded by powerful floodwaters. The hut was in danger of collapsing under the force of the gushing water. A kutcha hut is a rough, mud-and-thatch dwelling.

A Garud commando was lowered from the hovering helicopter onto the fragile rooftop to assist the civilians. They were then winched aboard one by one. All 12 were brought out of the flooded area safely, according to a Ministry of Defence press release.

The rescue came as floodwaters rose along the Indravati. Helicopter winching is used when landing is impossible. The operation was completed without injury, the Defence Ministry said.

The crew belongs to the Central Air Command; the rescue was reported on September 28, 2026.