In face of grave tragedy rises the most inspiring stories. One such that need to be told, retold and remembered is of the remarkable grit, tenacity and unflinching spirit of Indian Army and the one man whose faith could not be shaken by the worst of avalanches. 1/n
Col Um Bahadur Gurung, from Pokhara, Nepal, joined the Indian Army as a sepoy in Gorkha Rifles. He succeded tough competition to be selected to Army Cadet College Dehradun that trains personnel below officer rank to be commissioned as officers. 2/n
Commissioned into the Intelligence Corps, he was sent on attachment to 19 Madras. And he decided to stay. A phenomenal leader of men and a meticulous officer, he had become Gorkha Thambi for life. 3/n
On 3 February 2016, an avalanche hit the Sonam post in northern Siachen Glacier region, trapping 10 soldiers of 19 Madras under deep snow. Hope was all but zero.
But Col Gurung wasn't going to leave his boys behind. 4/n
But Col Gurung wasn't going to leave his boys behind. 4/n
As the Commanding Officer of 19 Madras Col Gurung simply went there and spearheaded the rescue operation selflessly, tirelessly. For his Thambis. And true to his faith, he would find Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad alive. 5/n
Indian Army's Siachen rescue mission isn't just a story of grit and determination, it is also a story of camaraderie and brotherhood, a story of ethos and values. Above all it is the story of a true leader of men. 6/n
It isn't just for the weapons and firepower that the Indian Army is celebrated for. It is for men like Col Gurung and the ethos that power them that the Army is truly celebrated for. And it's that spirit that keeps the Indian flag flying over ice-mountains and avalanches.🇮🇳
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