PM Modi Marks 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas With Tribute And Tunnel Inauguration

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kargil to mark the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. He will pay tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1999 conflict with Pakistan. Here are the top ten updates:

1. PM Modi is expected to arrive at the Kargil War Memorial around 9:20 am to honor the heroes of the Kargil War.

2.  He will also virtually inaugurate the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel Project. This project involves building a 4.1 km long twin-tube tunnel at about 15,800 feet above sea level on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Leh.

3. Once completed, the Shinkun La Tunnel will be the highest tunnel in the world. It will improve the movement of armed forces and equipment and support economic and social development in Ladakh.

4. On this 25th anniversary, families of the fallen soldiers reflect on their bravery and sacrifice. Madhubala, the widow of Kargil hero Vinod Kumar, shared, “We got married on May 18, 1997, and he lost his life on June 14, 1999. I feel very proud to be here.”

5. Rajender Kumar, the elder brother of Kargil hero Bejender Kumar, expressed pride in his brother’s sacrifice. “He died for the country, and we remember him every day,” he said.

6.Prashanti, the wife of Kargil hero Group Captain K Nachiketa Rao, spoke about her prayers for his return from Pakistan. “We married after the war. We used to pray every day for his repatriation. We are proud of his bravery and the chance he had to return and share his story,” she said.

7. K Nachiketa Rao, a fighter pilot, was captured by Pakistani forces but was eventually returned to India. Prashanti expressed pride in his bravery and their enduring love.

8. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated annually on July 26 to honor the success of Operation Vijay in 1999. During this operation, Indian forces reclaimed important positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been taken by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

9. Retired Brigadier Kushal Thakur, former commanding officer of the 18 Grenadiers, remembered the 34 soldiers from his unit who died recapturing key peaks like Tololing and Tiger Hill. He expressed that, despite the loss, it’s heartening to see the families of these soldiers smiling again.

Retired Brigadier Thakur said, “As a commanding officer, I have many bittersweet memories. It’s important to make sacrifices for the country. The 34 soldiers who died were very young, and their children never met their fathers. After 25 years, seeing their families able to smile again is a comforting sight.”