MY SIACHEN REMINISCENCES: PART-1

It was 23 Jan 1989,Monday. I was OP officer at "ASHOK", the post part of main glacier. Across located is Sonam and Bana post. Enemy ie Pakistan started firing first on Bana and their after switched their guns on to "Bhim" complex and then came back to Ashok. Enemy was firing very accurately. They were as usual firing Airburst ammunition with proximity fuses.

The practice which we use to follow was that on hearing the sound of firing, start counting and by the time reach 03 to 05 seconds round use to burst in proximity being Air burst. In case it does not burst is the signal that fire is directed towards Bhim complex. Lt (Now Brig)   Gurbaksh  Singh Sandhu was infantry officer with me.

We  heard the sound of fire which was intense. Moment the round burst ,I jumped inside improvised small OP pit which could hardly take one man. Lt G S Sandhu a very brave officer  always use to be with me during intense artillery firing by Pakistan also tried to jump but unfortunately   was hit in his right leg with a splinter in the thigh and injury looked like "V" shaped. He was profusely bleeding. 

Immediately on being hit he called " Sir I have been hit". I ordered " Stop" to guns and reached him. A forethought which came to my mind  that he has been hit in the stomach and his survival is difficult. .Time must be around not exactly noticed 1300 Hrs.

I immediately called for men who were inside the  hut/bunker made of snow filled in sand bags. As  usual men use to be inside during shelling. He was administered Morphin injection. Now major problem was how to evacuate him during intense shelling. No idea was coming to mind.He was to be taken to U CUT through a snow tunnel and was to be carried through an open patch for some distance. We did not have stretcher to carry him. He was very calm and brave through all this painful experience. Ultimately one white bed sheet was arranged and he was carried in it like a gunny bag to U CUT.

Pakistanis could observe from Pistol Ridges the unusual activity at out post and their firing became more intense .It took us about two hours plus  to cover a distance of about 200 to 250 metres.

That was first part of evacuation of brave soldier Lt (Now Brig) G S Sandhu from Ashok to U CUT in which brave soldiers of Kumauni's played a very brave and stellar role.

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