Operation Amistad: Indian Army Rescues 79-Year-Old Woman From Earthquake Rubble in Venezuela

Nearly a week after twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela, the Indian Army rescued a 79-year-old woman from beneath the rubble and launched intensive medical treatment, highlighting India's expanding humanitarian mission under Operation Amistad.

The elderly survivor was pulled from a collapsed building with a fractured leg and pre-existing peripheral arterial disease. Prolonged entrapment and delayed medical attention had led to a severe arterial ulcer, leaving her in acute pain.

Army doctors at the Indian Field Hospital immediately stabilised her fracture, began advanced wound management and placed her under continuous medical observation.

Sharing the rescue on X, the Indian Army described the mission as "a lifeline amidst the rubble."

"For a 79-year-old survivor, being rescued from the collapsed building marked only the beginning of her ordeal," the Army said, adding that its medical team was providing specialised care and daily follow-up treatment while reaffirming India's commitment to humanitarian assistance.

As rescue and relief operations continue, Venezuelan citizens have publicly thanked India for its assistance.

The Ministry of External Affairs shared videos on X showing survivors and their families expressing gratitude to Indian doctors and medical staff. One patient praised the care provided at the Army Field Hospital, particularly acknowledging the dedication of specialist doctors treating the injured.

Operation Amistad was launched after the powerful earthquakes struck central and northern Venezuela on June 24, triggering widespread destruction across the region.

According to estimates cited by CNN, based on NASA assessments, nearly 58,870 buildings have either been damaged or destroyed.

The disaster has claimed at least 1,719 lives, injured more than 5,000 people, and affected over 22,600 residents, according to Venezuela's National Assembly. Authorities have also recorded 609 aftershocks since the initial quakes, raising concerns about further damage and hampering rescue efforts.

The US Geological Survey has estimated a 44 per cent probability that the final death toll could exceed 10,000, underscoring the scale of one of Venezuela's deadliest natural disasters in recent years.

Amid the devastation, India's Army Field Hospital continues to provide emergency medical care, trauma treatment and humanitarian assistance, serving as one of the international relief missions on the ground as survivors begin the long road to recovery.

(With inputs from ANI)