Drass (Ladakh) : Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande interacted with veterans, 'Veer Naris', gallantry award recipients and locals in Ladakh's Drass and conveyed his gratitude on the eve of the 24th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. On July 26, 1999, the Indian Army announced the successful culmination of "Operation Vijay", declaring victory after a nearly three-month-long battle at the icy heights of Kargil, including super-high-altitude locations, such as Tololing and Tiger Hill.
On the eve of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023, General Manoj Pande interacted with Veterans, Veer Naris, Gallantry Award Winners and Awam of Dras and Kargil and conveyed his gratitude. A mesmerising display of military bands and cultural performances showcasing the rich and diverse culture of Ladakh was also showcased during the event, Indian Army said in a tweet on Tuesday.
The Army has also been putting up posts on its social media handles to mark the 24th anniversary of the occasion. "A solemn remembrance. General Manoj Pande paid homage to the Bravehearts of the Kargil War in a solemn ceremony 'Shaurya Sandhya' at Kargil War Memorial, Dras. Gallant heroes, Veer Naris and various civil and military dignitaries lit 559 lamps, in honour of the fallen Bravehearts," the Army said in another tweet.
"General Manoj Pande also felicitated the Veterans, Gallant Heroes of the Kargil War and the family members of the fallen Heroes. He interacted with the Nari Sashaktikaran Women Motorcycle Rally Team and all other dignitaries present during this solemn occasion," the Army said in a following tweet.
The Kargil War saw soldiers of the Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrain under harsh weather conditions leading to the defeat of the enemy in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors. On this occasion, a briefing was conducted on Tuesday at Lamochen (Drass).
The event commenced with an audio-visual narration of the battles which showcased the Kargil War as it unfolded. The vivid narrations, in the backdrop of the very mountains where the fierce battles were fought, recreated scenes of each battle and the venue reverberated with tales of bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers. (PTI)
