Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and senior military officials paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil War on Sunday, marking the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The commemorative ceremony was held at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, where wreaths were laid in honour of the armed forces personnel who fought during Operation Vijay to recapture strategic mountain positions from Pakistani intruders.
The day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial under clear skies in the Dras Valley. Rajnath Singh, who arrived in Dras on Saturday, attended the event as the chief guest at the 'Shradhanjali Samaroh'. Before the Defence Minister, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and Northern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, along with other senior military officers, also paid floral tributes to the fallen soldiers.
As part of the ceremony, three Army helicopters flew in an arrowhead formation over the memorial and showered flower petals as a mark of respect. The aerial tribute formed one of the highlights of the commemorative events organised to remember the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during the Kargil conflict.
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On Saturday evening, the Army organised the 'Shaurya Sandhya' programme at the Kargil War Memorial despite rainy weather in Dras. The event honoured the courage and sacrifice displayed by soldiers during Operation Vijay and paid homage to those who lost their lives in the conflict. During the ceremony, Rajnath Singh handed ceremonial kalash to family members of several soldiers who were martyred in the war.
The Indian Army is conducting a series of events in Dras to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Operation Vijay. The annual observance remembers the successful military operation in 1999, during which Indian armed forces reclaimed strategic peaks in the Kargil sector after infiltrators backed by the Pakistani military occupied key positions along the Line of Control.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to commemorate India's victory in the Kargil War and to honour the courage, sacrifice and dedication of the armed forces. The day marks the successful conclusion of Operation Vijay, recognising the soldiers who fought under challenging high-altitude conditions to restore control over Indian territory.
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