Shaurya Chakra | |||||
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Lt Col | Vijay Kumar Sitaram IA | Unit : 663 AOP Sqn | Award Date 08 Mar 86 | Announced 26 Jan 87 | |
Details : | On the 8th March, 1986, while on a reconnaissance mission with the General Officer Commanding and the Brigade Commander on board aircraft flown by Lieutenant Colonel Vijay Kumar Sitaram, Flight Commander of an Air Observation Post Squadron, operating in forward area in Northern Sector was fired upon by the enemy with surface to air missiles. With reflex action and superb airmanship, he manoeuvred his aircraft out of the direction of the missile, missing it by inches. Totally unnerved he continued to take evasive action and landed safely. A second reconnaissance was launched, with the Brigade Commander on board, to locate the site of the missile system. During the second mission, his mission was again engaged by ground fire. With his daring skill and superb airmanship reconnaissance was able to detect the enemy positions. After location, he got airborne again under enemy fire and conducted an accurate artillery shoot destroying the enemy position. Lieutenant Colonel Vijay Kumar Sitaram thus displayed indomitable courage, a high degree of professional skill and devotion to duty of an exceptional order. | ||||
Reference: | Notification No. 35-Pres/87 dated 26th January, 1987 published in Part 1, Section 1, Gazette of India dated 11th April, 1987. | ||||
Shaurya Chakra | |||||
Wg Cdr | Kannimangalam Vaidyanathan Seshadri 10030 ACCT | Unit : AFS Bombay | Award Date 24 Jun 85 | Announced 26 Jan 87 | |
Details : | Bombay experienced incessant and very heavy rainfall on the night of 24th/25th June 85 which continued up to 1200 hours next day. Between 800 hours and 1200 hours Bombay received an unprecedented 378 mm of rainfall. This resulted in disruption of rail and bus services and no light vehicles could ply in most of the areas. Wing Commander Kannimangalam Vaidyanathan Seshadri of Air Force Station was only officer who managed to reach Air Force Station on that day. When at about 0800 hours Wing Commander Seshadri noticed that the water level inside the Station Headquarters was rising rapidly, he sensed danger and displaying great presence of mind, he first rushed with all available personal to MES Power Station in order to cut of the power supply to the camp area. At that time the Power Station was having waist deep water and there was great danger of electrocution. Disregarding this danger and at great risk to his life Wing Commander Seshadri went in the Power House and personally put off electrical switches. Having eliminated the grave danger of electrocution and fire due to short circuiting, the officer then set about the task of preventing the damage to service equipment. He marshaled the personal available to him to put at height Secret and Confidential publications, Stationary, rations and MT spares etc. He also arranged for food for the NCO's Mess and for the families who were marooned in the domestic area. During these seven hours of unprecedented rainfall Wing Commander Kannimangalam Vaidyanathan Seshadri displayed unflinching courage and determination to prevent loss of life that could have resulted from the flood situation. His timely presence of mind saved costly equipment, document, rations, office furniture and stationary costing about 4-5 lakhs. | ||||
Reference: | Notification No. 35-Pres/87 dated 26th January, 1987 published in Part 1, Section 1, Gazette of India dated 11th April, 1987. | ||||
Shaurya Chakra | |||||
Flt Lt | Naseem Akhtar 14279 F(P) | Unit : MiG Operational Flying Training Unit | Award Date 26 Jan 86 | Announced 26 Jan 87 | |
Details : | On 27th January, 1986 Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar was detailed for an instructional story with a foreign trainee at a flying training base. Shortly after take off, while leaving circuit at 1300' above ground level, he experienced severe engine vibration. He took the correct action of throttling back the engine but in this process the engine flamed out. He then tried a hot re-light, while easing up, which provided to be of no avail. He promptly asked his pupil to eject keeping in view the low height. The pupil was hesitant and did not respond to instructions. At this stage Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar would have been fully justified in ejecting himself, since any further delay would have jeopardized his own safety, in view of the low height. Completely disregarding the immediate danger to his own life he decided not to abandon his pupil into the hands of fate. He quickly went over the relight drill and the engine relit seconds before the impact with the ground. Opening full power he commenced a climb back towards base. However, shortly thereafter the engine flamed out again. Flt Lt Akhtar himself jettisoned the canopy and asked his pupil to eject. Not being sure of the pupil's reaction, he simultaneously attempted relight. This time, however the pupil ejected, but, even as he did so, the engine once again picked up, though at a very low height. He coolly assessed the situation and in spite of the high noise level in cock pit due to a jettisoned canopy and the unreliable engine, he landed the aircraft immediately and safely. Flight Lieutenant Naseem Akhtar, at great peril to his own life, faced a totally unforeseen situation coolly and lived up to the loftiest ideals of human conflict. He not only saved the valuable life of his people but also brought back the aircraft safely. | ||||
Reference: | Notification No. 35-Pres/87 dated 26th January, 1987 published in Part 1, Section 1, Gazette of India dated 11th April, 1987. | ||||