By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, August 12:
The serving and retired gallantry award winners of the Indian Navy were felicitated by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at a function organized by the Western Naval Command as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of Indian Independence celebrations), in Mumbai on Wednesday.
In a function held at the Mulla Auditorium in South Mumbai, 38 awardees were felicitated. Maharashtra Governor was the Chief Guest at the ceremony. He was received by Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, an Indian Navy statement said.
The recipients included Three Vir Chakra, five Shaurya Chakra, and 30 Nau Sena Medal (Gallantry) awardees. They comprised 13 retired officers and eight retired sailors. Admiral VS Shekhawat, Vir Chakra, was also felicitated for his stellar role in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Other awardees were recognized for their heroic acts during various operations including the 1971 War, Op Pawan, Op Rakshak, counter-insurgency missions, anti-piracy and rescue at sea, and outstanding achievements in various expeditions.
NCC
In another development, the Cadets of the Maharashtra NCC Directorate and the cadets from other directorates across the country interacted with military cadets of brazil and 14 other countries at Youth Exchange Program in New Delhi on Thursday.
Expedition to search for lost climbers
In the meanwhile, the Indian Navy launched an expedition to recover the climbers who were lost in the Himalayas during an expedition to Mount Trishul in September 2021, on Wednesday.
The expedition to Mount Trishul was launched as part of “Swarnim Vijay Varsh” (the Golden Jubilee of India’s victory in the war against Pakistan). During the summit attempt, a sudden and unexpected avalanche caused the lead team of five naval personnel, Lt Cdr Rajanikant Yadav, Lt Cdr Yogesh Tiwari, Lt Cdr Anant Kukreti, Lt Cdr Shashank Tewari, Hariom MCPO II (GW) and Sherpa Dupka Tshering, to suffer a fatal fall, resulting in their unfortunate demise.
While the mortal remains of four climbers were recovered, two climbers, a naval officer, and the sherpa remained missing. The search operation to locate them had to be discontinued after 13 days of intense effort due to the onset of foul weather and winter that made the endeavour unsafe.
Now the expedition has been launched in true testimony to the ethos of the Service, to recover the climbers who were lost in the mountain, reiterating that the Indian Navy does not leave any of its behinds, the statement said.
On this solemn occasion, a Trishul Memorial was instituted in memory of the fallen heroes. It will serve as an inspiration to future generations of adventurers in the Indian Navy. The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, and other senior officers paid tribute and homage to the lost personnel by lighting candles at the Memorial.
Family members of the Bravehearts were also felicitated during the event. The family of the missing sherpa was, in addition, handed a financial aid package as some measure of relief.
