On the 8th July, 1982 at approximately 1100 hours, while on a RTR commitment from Madras to Cochin in a Dakota aircraft at 8000’, Squadron Leader Visvanathan Nagarajan (8753), Flying (Pilot), experienced vibration on the starboard engine. He decided to divert to Yelahanka-Bangalore. Since the vibrations on the engine kept increasing and the aircraft started losing height, he decided to feather the engine and ejected the load to reduce the weight of the aircraft. With the use of emergency methods, the propeller did not feather and the aircraft kept going down very fast. Realising the gravity of the situation and knowing that he would not be able to reach Bangalore or any other airfield, he decided to force land the aircraft in a lake-bed, which was the only clear place within reach and amongst generally mountainous terrain, under cloudy weather condition. He carried out a copy book forced landing and the aircraft settled in the lake in approximately three feet of water. Squadron Leader Visvanathan Nagarajan handled this grave emergency very successfully and thus saved not only valuable lives on board but more on ground.

Squadron Leader Visvanathan Nagarajan thus displayed exemplary professional skill, competence and devotion to duty of a high order.