User:Dkkhanna44

Operation Meghdoot

More details for the Article after Line 22 Under "The Operation"
Certain more details about Operation Meghdoot, which have come to light with the publication of a new book "Gorichen to Siachen, The Untold Saga of Hoisting the Tricolour on Saltoro By Brig DK Khnana, VSM -ISBN: 978-93-86367-10-5 Publisher Alpha Editions", need to be included in the main article. More so because Brig DK Khanna, the author of the book, was in command of the Kumaon Battalion which was the first Battalion ever to operate on the Siachen Glacier in 1984. The following paragraphs which summarizes the operation of the Battalion (on Chapter 16,Page 116 of the Book)are recommended to be included: Indian Army made history by pre-empting Pakistan and occupying the Saltoro Ridgeline at Siala (18,337 feet) and Bilafondla (17,881 feet) in a surprise helicopter landing of a platoon each on these passes in April 1984. UNNIS Kumaon, (under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel (later Brigadier) D. K. Khanna were moved on foot over a distance of 630 Kms) made history by being the first battalion ever to cross Zojila and thereafter Khardungla on foot with full battle loads in winters under the most trying snow conditions in March and April 1984 respectively. To their credit they achieved this without a single fallout enroute or suffering a serious casualty. Then again being the first battalion to operate as a unit in the Nubra Valley and on the Siachen Glacier. Again, UNNIS was the first battalion to hoist the tricolour on the Saltoro Ridgeline (at Point 5705 -18,717 feet) in the face of enemy fire thus dominating Gyongla (18,655 feet) which was under enemy occupation. On 29 May 1984 UNNIS lost 19 of its best soldiers, including an officer, who had volunteered to obey orders which they fully knew could take them to their certain death. During April – May 1984, UNNIS was spread all through the Area of Siachen with Capt Roshan Lal Yadav at the Indira Col, Major Shashi Kant Mahajan and Major Darshan Lal Julka on the Central Glaciers (Gyongla, Zingrulma Lagongma, and Layogma Glaciers) and Major Rajender Singh Hooda in the Urdelop Glacier. UNNIS was thus the first Battalion ever to be spread out so much on the Glacier (about 100 Kms), which, perhaps, no other battalion has been subjected to ever since.” Dkkhanna44 (talk) 04:12, 1 September 2017 (UTC) Dkkhanna44 (talk) 04:12, 1 September 2017 (UTC)