Naval aviators win gallantry medals for rescue operations

They showed exceptional courage in saving people, including expectant women during floods

Two helicopter pilots of the Southern Naval Command, who showed exemplary courage and skill in rescuing marooned people, including expectant women, during the floods of August last year, are among the five naval personnel from the Command selected for gallantry awards on Republic Day.

Commander Vijay Varma, Chetak pilot at the naval air station, INS Garuda, had rescued a total of 24 stranded people, including two pregnant women.

One of them, stranded at a masjid in an area dotted with trees and buildings and criss-crossing power lines, had ruptured the amniotic sac and was in labour.

Cdr Varma brought the chopper to a low-hover, close enough to conduct the winching operations.

Commander T. Anup Kumar, chief manager at the Naval Aircraft Yard (Kochi), had piloted a Chetak, with a life-extended airframe, to provide food and water to marooned people atop a small bridge.

Hovering his chopper close to a building where a pregnant woman and an elderly woman were stranded, he was able to get them winched up.

The citation for flight diver Amit said he displayed unprecedented grit and valour in saving 23 stranded people in Operation Madad during the floods.

1,459 rescued

Diving supervisor Pramendra Kumar steered a Gemini inflatable craft along the Pizhala, Kadamakkudy, Moolampilly, Kothad and Periyamthuruth islands to rescue 1,459 people during the floods. Commander R. Hari Govind’s selection for the gallantry medal was in recognition of his courage in flying at night to carry out medical evacuation of the crew of the merchant vessel Nu Shi Nalini, which had an engine room explosion off Kochi.

AVSM for Rear Admiral

The Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ravindra Jayant Nadkarni, has been selected for the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), while Commodore Deepak Kumar, Chief Staff Officer (Operations); and Commodore Manish Misra of INS Chilka, were selected for Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).

Sena Medal for Major

Malayali Major Dilip Unni (EME) from 1 Rashtriya Rifles was selected for Sena Medal (gallantry) for eliminating a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir in July last year.