On the 26th August, 1981, Flying Officer Jankiraman Balasubramanian (15558) Flying (Pilot), took off for an air dropping sortie in Eastern Sector. The Dropping Zone was one of the Southern-most low lying dropping Zone. The flight was uneventful till the aircraft reached the dropping Zone. On his very first run for the drop, Flying Officer Balasubramanian heard a loud backfiring noise from his port engine followed by severe vibrations and smoke. Flying Officer Balasubramanian quickly checked his engine instruments and confirmed the failure of port engine. He not only controlled the aircraft at this critical stage of flight but avoided the hill in front of him in a cool, confident and courageous manner and simultaneously shut down the port engine. Flying Officer Balasubramanian found that his aircraft was not climbing on one engine. He quickly ejected the load and managed to gain the badly needed height of 1500' which was his minimum escape route height. He flew the stricken aircraft on one engine for over one hour over hilly terrain fighting turbulence and keeping a hawk's eye on the temperature of his live engine. He thus succeeded in bringing the aircraft back to base and made a perfect touch down.

Flying Officer Jankiraman Balasubramanian, with his flying experience of only 270 hours, handled the grave emergency in an exemplary and professional manner and thus saved eight valuable lives on board.

Wing Commander Janakiram Balasubramanian, SC was commissioned as a Transport Pilot on 30 Dec 78. A Qualified Flying Instructor, he is on the posted strength of Air HQ Communication Squadron since May 93. An experienced flier, with over 7200 flours of accident free flying, he was earlier a Command Examiner in the Eastern Air Command on the AN-32 aircraft. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra as a Flying Officer in 1982.

Despite a long gap in flying the Avro aircraft, Wg Cdr Balasubramanian attained the highest category of A/MG and was cleared for VVIP flying within a short period. He took over as 'A' Flight Commander in Oct 94 and worked in a very systematic and professional manner which resulted in an exceptionally high VVIP clearance state of the Flight. The Flight, under his leadership, undertook the onerous task of flying VVIPs safely to short and difficult airfields where only the Avro can operate.

Wg Cdr Balasubramanian was additionally tasked with the responsibility of in-flight catering services and the maintenance of the ground equipment, a twin responsibility never undertaken by any officer before. He ensured a very high and commendable standard in a cost effective manner without any audit observations.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander Janakiram Balasubramanian, SC.