An ALH was immediately pressed into service as soon as the Delhi-based Western Air Command received the request for an air evacuation,' an IAF spokesperson said.

'The high altitude put constraints on the reserve of power. The odds were high with unfavourable temperatures. The IAF helicopter led the rescue mission by conducting low-hover pick-ups,' the spokesperson added.

The ALH conducted three sorties and rescued 12 personnel and the Cheetah helicopters of the army rescued the other seven.

The ALH was captained by Wing Commander Nikhil Naidu with co-pilot Wing Commander U.K.S. Bhaduria.

'The mission was the first ever recorded rescue mission by the ALH at such high altitudes,' the spokesperson said.

Himachal Pradesh got relief from heavy rains and snow Sunday after seeing continuous downpour for over four days.

According to the Meteorological Office here, most of the higher reaches got one to two metres of snowfall.