Captain Utpal Datta narrating his experiences of the Kargil War at the Goa Human Resource Corporation office in Porvorim.
Photo Credits: Anil Shankhwalker
PORVORIM
A navy pilot presently based in the State provided first-hand experiences of the Kargil War and his squadron’s role in providing casualty evacuation and providing water, logistics, and ammunition to the troops.
He was addressing a function organised by the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC) to commemorate Kargil Vijay Diwas to honour the sacrifices of soldiers during the Kargil War in 1999.
Captain Utpal Datta, NM (Gallantry), who was the sole naval officer to have actively participated in the 1999 Kargil Operations was the chief guest and gave a presentation on the war and action that was taken.
Captain Datta, a helicopter pilot with the Indian Navy, currently posted at HQ Naval Aviation, Goa reminisced about the 77 hours that he clocked during Operation Vijay between June 4 and July 22, 1999, with satisfaction and pride.
The courageous Chetak and Cheetah pilot, who earned a Chief of Army Staff commendation and a Nau Sena medal for gallantry, also flew then Army Chief General Ved Prakash Malik for a reconnaissance sortie in Drass area.
His squadron was tasked with casualty evacuation and providing water, logistics, and ammunition to the troops. Falling under the command of the army, Capt Datta flew the Cheetah highest at 26,400 feet, and carried out the duties of an observation post, guiding the Bofors guns, while looking into the enemy territory flying high.
In his speech, Capt Datta recalled that casualties in each sortie were dropped at a make-shift hospital in Ghumri for immediate relief and stabilisation and were later evacuated in Mi-17 choppers to Srinagar.
He mentioned that choppers were the only lifelines in these battle zone areas of more than 130 kilometres along the LOC in Drass and Kargil.
“Since there was no night flying permitted, we used to wait for the first light of the day, when information was passed on, to resume flying again. Sleeping for just four-five hours in the entire day, was a regular scenario,” said Capt Datta.
The programme began with a wreath-laying ceremony by the guests including Capt Dutta, Col Manoj Rathore, GHRDC MD Narayan Navati and other officials.
GHRDC General Manager (Security) John Aguiar introduced the guests, while Senior Security Officer Siddesh Bordekar welcomed and compered the programme while GHRDC MD Narayan Navati later proposed the vote of thanks.
