Squadron Leader Shrinivas Prahlad Desai was posted to a squadron in June 1967, which was called upon to undertake the difficult task of air maintenance for the North East Frontier Agency. He, along with a handful of his colleagues, carried out the pioneering work of classifying all the dropping zones despite adverse weather conditions. He flew 104 hours on operational tasks of air maintenance and also trained many pilots in supply dropping techniques. On the 27th July 1967, Squadron Leader Desai was called upon to undertake a supply dropping mission to an isolated post located in an extremely difficult mountainous region at a height of 10,700 feet. He undertook this sortie with full knowledge of the difficulties involved. After carrying out a most accurate pin-point drop in the first run, over the tiny dropping zone, he made another circuit for subsequent drop when the port engine of the aircraft suddenly failed and the aircraft started losing height rapidly. Faced with great danger, he had to crash land the aircraft in the mountainous terrain and in doing so lost his life along with three other aircrew.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Shrinivas Prahlad Desai displayed courage and devotion to duty.