pm-to-visit-drass-on-july-26-to-honour-kargil-war-heroes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kargil in Ladakh on July 26 to honour the soldiers on the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

 

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi are also expected to attend the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kargil war victory at the War Memorial in Drass on 26th July.

 

Officials have confirmed that the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Retd) BD Mishra, will visit Drass on July 24 to review arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit.

 

Modi will arrive at the Drass Brigade helipad in the morning, where the LG of Ladakh and top Army and civil officials will receive him.

 

The Prime Minister will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony and visit the "Wall of Fame" (Shaheed Marg). He will also visit the Museum of Kargil War artefacts and be briefed on the Kargil War by top Army Commanders.

 

"Our primary goal is to honour the sacrifices made by our soldiers and ensure their legacy is remembered," said an official.

 

As per officials, the Prime Minister will also interact with war widows and visit Veer Bhoomi. He is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the Shinku La tunnel and address the gathering before departing from the Kargil War Memorial.

 

The CDS and the three service chiefs are expected to arrive in advance at Drass to receive the Prime Minister and participate in the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.

 

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year at the Drass War Memorial on July 26 to commemorate the day in 1999 when the Indian Army, supported by the Indian Air Force, pushed back the last Pakistani intruders from the Kargil Heights after nearly three months of conflict, during which approximately 500 Indian soldiers were slain.

 

The Prime Minister, who has previously visited the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, and the War Memorial at Drass to celebrate Diwali with Army soldiers, will also address the troops at Drass.

 

Meanwhile, Major General Sachin Malik, General Officer Commanding the 8 Mountain Division, briefed the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh about the Prime Minister’s visit schedule.

 

The Lieutenant Governor has called for all necessary arrangements to be made for the Prime Minister’s visit.

 

While the exact schedule of the Prime Minister’s visit is being finalised, he is expected to fly from New Delhi to Srinagar and then take a helicopter to Drass, where weather conditions can sometimes be challenging.

 

The Prime Minister is expected to stay at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass for about two hours before flying back to New Delhi.