During the year 1959-60, the IAF was engaged in supply dropping missions in NEFA and NHTA areas. The aircraft had to operate over treacherous terrain where the weather is unpredictable. The dropping zones were numerous and abnormally small in size. Under the hazardous conditions this young officer showed tremendous zeal and devotion to duty by carrying out a 1000 hours of flying on these missions in little over a year.

His enthusiasm and devotion to duty in the face of adverse flying conditions was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Air Force.

On 1st May 1961, one Dakota aircraft, while on a sortie near the U.P./Tibet border area was reported missing. Squadron Leader Sahgal, who was commanding a Helicopter unit, volunteered to lead the Helicopter Detachment personally to locate the missing aircraft and conduct the rescue operations. This task not only involved reconnaissance over a hazardous mountainous area under unfavourable weather conditions, but also entailed considerable administrative and logistic planning in moving the detachment at short notice to various advanced outposts. He ferried the helicopter form his parent unit to an advanced base on 2nd May commenced intensive search of the area where the aircraft was report4ed to have crashed. Due to conflicting reports regarding he location of the crashed aircraft, it became frequently necessary to modify the operational and logistical plans and adjust it suitably to meet the situation. Next day he resumed the search and succeeded in establishing that the aircraft had not crashed I the area reported. By this time information had been received that the surviving members of the crew had reached one of the advance Army out posts. Squadron Leader Sahgal had therefore to move his detachment further up in order to rescue the survivors who were injured and needed immediate evacuation. Despite the difficult terrain and bad weather, he succeeded in locating a s suitable landing area. In evacuating the survivors, Squadron Leader Sahgal took an extremely bold step to fly out two survivors at a time, there by completing the evacuation in the least possible time. With a view to recover the bodies of the dead, he was detailed to further reconnoiter the area. In spite of fatigue, he carried out the search. During all these flights, Squadron Leader Sahgal had to fly his helicopter practically to the limits of the performance under adverse weather conditions.