SRINAGAR, May 27: Hundreds of Veer Naris, Veterans and Next of Kins from all over Eastern Ladakh participated in ‘Year of the NOK’ rally organized by the Army as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that hundreds of Veer Naris, Veterans and NOKs from all over Eastern Ladakh region participated in a ‘Year of the NOK’ Rally for Veer Naris and Veterans organised by the Kiari Brigade of the Fire & Fury Corps at Chumathang Military Station on Saturday.
“As part of collective collaboration, three medical officers from the Army Medical Corps, a dentist with Mobile Dental Van and two specialist doctors from the civil administration provided health advices and medical facilities,” he said.
He said the prescribed medicines were issued to all by the mobile dispensary based on a vehicle, adding dental check-up and treatment was also provided to patients from the mobile dental van.
“A total of 320 patients including 24 Veterans, 04 Veer Naris and their dependents benefited from the Medical-cum-Dental Camp,” he said.
He said through this Rally, the Fire & Fury Corps has reiterated the commitment of the formation in particular and the Indian Army in general, towards the well-being of retired Army personnel and their dependents, in the year which the Indian Army has designated as ‘Year of the NOK’.
“The medical outreach facilitated by the Fire and Fury Corps under the guidance of Mrs Ina Joshi, Zonal President AWWA was appreciated and well received by the Veer Naris, Veterans with their NOKs and also by the local population of the area,” he added.
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa today flew the ‘missing man’ formation in a MiG-21 aircraft to pay tributes to Squadran Leader Ajay Ahuja and other fallen heroes of the Kargil war.
He was accompanied by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) Western Air Command Air Marshal R Nambiar in the flypast organised at Air Force Station in Bhisiana here.
The ‘missing man’ formation is an aerial salute accorded to honour the fallen comrades-in-arms. It is an arrow formation, with a gap between two aircraft in the formation depicting the missing man, the IAF said in a statement.
The Chief of the Air staff, led a four aircraft, MiG-21 ‘missing man’ formation flypast to honour the valour and supreme sacrifice of men killed in action during ‘Operation Safed Sagar’ at Kargil, an IAF spokesperson said.
Later, in a sombre ceremony, he laid a wreath at the War Memorial to honour the IAF men who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja had laid down his life during the Kargil conflict.
He was at that time the Flight Commander of 17 Squadron and was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his valour during the conflict which took place 20 years ago.
On the occasion Alka Ahuja, widow of Ajay Ahuja, also paid tributes to the late IAF officer.
On May 28, the Air Chief will visit Air Force Station in Sarsawa, Uttar Pradesh and fly in a Mi-17 V5 ‘missing man’ formation to commemorate the Kargil martyrs. (Agencies)
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