Indian Army Rescues People Using ATOR N1200 Amphibious Vehicle During Amritsar Floods [Video]

We have been getting reports of heavy rains, cloudbursts, flooding, and even landslides from North India for the past week. Many parts of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand have received heavy rainfall, and sadly, many lives have been lost in this tragic natural calamity. Even in Amritsar, the situation is severe, with many people stranded in their houses due to rising water levels. The Indian Army has now stepped in and has used the ATOR N1200 SMV to rescue people.

The video has been shared by Gagandeep Singh on his X profile. In this video, we see the condition of the low-lying areas in Amritsar. There are other video online that show the condition of Punjab. Most farmlands and areas near rivers are submerged due to heavy rains.

The water level in the rivers has also risen, making rescue operations far more challenging. The video mentions that the local police, NDRF, and the Indian Army have reached the spot and started their operations.

Local police are using loudspeakers to communicate with residents stranded in their homes. The Specialist Mobility Vehicle (SMV) has also been deployed in the area. What does the SMV do? It is a multi-terrain amphibious vehicle that can float and travel on water without any issues. It can also be driven easily in snow, ice, marshes, dunes, and rocky terrain.

This makes it extremely useful for rescue operations. The Indian Army recently inducted the ATOR N1200 into their fleet. The massive tyres on the ATOR N1200 can deflate and inflate at the touch of a button. The ATOR N1200 is built by JSW Gecko Motors in partnership with UK-based Copato. It is the Indian version of the Sherp N1200 Amphibious Vehicle.

The Indian Army had placed a ₹250 crore order for 94 such vehicles back in 2024, and it looks like they arrived just in time. The ATOR is manufactured in Chandigarh.

In the video, we see the ATOR being driven into the overflowing river or flooded areas with ease. The large tyres with grooves act like paddles while the vehicle is in water, pushing it forward. Using the levers, the driver can easily control the direction of movement.

It is a tall vehicle with a cabin at the rear for personnel to sit. In this case, the benches at the back are being used to transport people stranded in their houses. Over 40 villages have been submerged in the flood. Speaking to ANI, Minister Aman Arora said that heavy rainfall across Punjab and other northern states has created this severe situation, and that they, along with authorities, are working to rescue people as well as cattle and other animals to safer locations.

The situation is so severe that in some places, even Border Security Force personnel posts have been affected. Heavy rainfall has also washed away roads in several places, including Manali.