In such conditions the life-line to the outside world is the Indian Air Force.Siachen air operations of today are a far cry from the "drawing water from the well" procedure of 1978. Awarded to the Indian Air Force for Operation Meghdoot, in support of activities in support of troops serving in the Siachen Glacier area since April 1984. Operation Meghdoot (lit. Where in the world was that?
The operations indicated the need for a specialised unit for such operations and led to the formation of the National Security Guards. The Jawans stay in conditions that defy description -miserably cold, with temperatures going down to -600 C, where the weather clamps down for days at a stretch, preventing supplies from coming in. The black snout of the glacier was, to say the least, imposing and menacing yet truly majestic. I felt a lump in my throat, and when Sqn Ldr Kaushik read it I saw that he was no better.
The area was more beautiful than one could have ever imagined and the flying just out of this world. Thereafter, medium lift Mi-17 helicopters air drop loads on to lower level helipads on the glacier -by lower levels I mean helipads up to about 17,500 ft! I had some free issue Armed Forces inlands which we dropped for them and thereafter made sure that their loved ones back home were never denied news about their people on the glacier, courtesy 'drawing water from the well method.The Flight Commander, Sqn Ldr Monga next came on as Detachment Commander. The intervening twenty years have seen the operations increase in size and intensity. It is still so vivid -it was a 10% solution box. Camp I and II (scenes of the drawing water episodes) passed by and we were over un-chartered territory soon. Today, with his sound knowledge and extensive flying in the area, his unit is doing yeoman service in support of "OP Meghdoot". I was fresh out of Helicopter Training School (HTS), a qualified helicopter pilot posted to No.114 Helicopter Unit, then based at Jammu. Fuel was running short and we were a bit angry. Air maintenance starts from Chandigarh from where IL-76s and An-32s ferry in supplies and men to Leh and Thoise. They are scientifically planned and executed meticulously -for both supplies and human lives are precious. The IAF technicians operating in the Glacier are the true unsung heroes of Operation Meghdoot.
All Rights Reserved. For some reason Sqn Ldr Monga said that he would fly on the left of the valley. During 37 years of his career he has been awarded the Sena Medal for Operation Meghdoot, Yudh Seva Medal (2010) for command of 53 Infantry brigade, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for the command of 17 Mountain division, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (2016) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2017) for his service as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.
The controls were handed over to me and Sqn. Sqn. Pakistan had also started showing the area as their own on their maps. Fuel was fast depleting and the shadows were lengthening; so we turned back. And so, when the request for the next sortie came in on 23 September 1978, we were prepared.Sqn Ldr JK Kaushik was now the Detachment Commander. Back at Leh when we were reliving the experience a thought occurred to us, "Why not pick up their mail for their people back home?" Here we were trying to help them and they were not responding. Where there were no crevasses there was only Ice.
In the carton was tattered piece of paper on which was written in Hindi, "SAHIB HAMARE PAS LIKHNE KELIYE KAGAZ NAHIN HAl. We flew past, where Kumar post now stands, and carried on ahead. The Indian army has secured its position on the ridgeline." The Siachen Glacier Medal is awarded for service in the Siachen conflict along India's northern border with Pakistan. And then the Jawan gave a smile and a salute that I can never ever forget. Came Camp I, the aircraft was brought to a hover, the sliding door opened and out went the 'freah'. It was 06 October 1978; we were having coffee when a requisition came for a CASEVAC from Siachen Advance Base Camp.
We took off with full fuel, and after the mandatory two orbits managed to cross Khardungla. However, both sides incurred most of their casualties from the weather and the terrain. The Siachen conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen War, was a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed … The unit was commanded by a Squadron Leader. IAF Il-76s, An 12s and An 32s transported stores and troops, airdropped supplies to high altitude airfields while Mi-17s, Mi-8s, Chetaks and Cheetahs ferried men and material to dizzy heights far above the limits set by the helicopter manufacturers.
Siachen is where only one type of pilot operates -the brave and a notch above the average; where only one type of technician succeeds -once again the brave and a step above the average. One could never have imagined that by 1984, when Op Meghdoot was launched, it would become a routine day in and day out procedure, braving enemy fire and that it would be continuing in 1998 too. Yes in 1978.
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