Udhampur, February 12

On the occasion of the Investiture Ceremony, gallantry and distinguished service awards were presented by Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, to 38 officers and other ranks here today.Lt Gen Hooda presented 19 Sena Medals (gallantry), including three Sena Medals (posthumous), 10 Sena Medals (distinguished service) and nine Vishisht Seva Medals.He also presented GOC-in-C Unit Appreciation to 29 units for their outstanding performance in 2015. A total of 15 civilians were also felicitated for their outstanding assistance rendered to the Army.Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Hooda commended all ranks of the Northern Command for their dedication and devotion to duty in the highest traditions of the Army. He congratulated those who were decorated for bravery and distinguished service. — TNS

Students pray near a sand sculpture of Hanumanthappa at Puri. AFP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 10

The condition of Siachen survivor Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad has deteriorated over the past one day and it remains “very critical”, the Army has said.Hanumanthappa of the 19 Madras Regiment was rescued alive six days after being buried under tonnes of ice following an avalanche on the Siachen Glacier on February 3. His condition was reviewed by a team of the Army Hospital (R&R) comprising critical care specialists, Head of the Dept of Medicine, nephrologists, neurologists and a panel of experts from AIIMS, New Delhi.An Army statement said, “He continues to remain extremely critical with evidence of oxygen deprivation to the brain on CT scan. There is evidence of pneumonia in both lungs.”“The rescued jawan has multi-organ dysfunction and that continues…His condition has deteriorated despite aggressive therapy and supportive care,” it added.Hanumanthappa remained ventilator-dependent since his arrival in the hospital yesterday, it said. The medical team at the R&R Hospital was monitoring his condition regularly and he was being treated with the best expertise and resources available in the world, the Army said.Hailing Hanumanthappa’s “endurance and will power”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi wished for his speedy recovery. 

Woman ready to donate kidney for Siachen soldier

An indigenously built Extra Fast Attack Craft of the Indian Navy, based on the design of Israeli Super Dvora Mk-II, is seen during the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. PTI

Visakhapatnam, February 6

President Pranab Mukherjee today embarked on Presidential Yacht ‘INS Sumitra’ and reviewed the imposing international parade of fleet at IFR-2016 here where 50 countries across the globe have come together to participate in this show of prowess and preparedness by the Indian Navy.Mukherjee, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, among others at the International Fleet Review (IFR). This is the 11th fleet review after Independence and the second international one being conducted in India.The President was onboard ‘INS Sumitra’ which sailed through a display of 70 ships at anchorage off Visakhapatnam. Speaking after reviewing the fleet, Mukherjee said 50 friendly Navies had sailed across oceans and sent Naval ships and/or delegations to participate in the first IFR on the east coast of India at Visakhapatnam.“Navies world over have conducted fleet reviews to symbolise their loyalty, allegiance to the nation and strengthening bonds between the sailors and the state. IFR 2016 does that much and much more,” the President said.“IFR 2016, while focusing on the prowess of Indian Navy, has brought together Navies from across the globe here on Indian shores, signifying our common desire to use the seas to promote peace, cooperation and friendship as also develop partnership for a secure maritime future”, he said.The review had a combination of ships from Indian Navy as well as frontline Navies from across the globe. The ships from Indian Coast Guard and Mercantile Marine also participated.In this most formal of naval ceremonies, each ship dressed in full regalia saluted the President as he passed. — PTI

Tribune file photo of the Siachen Glacier.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 3Ten soldiers of the Indian Army are missing following an avalanche on the Siachen glacier in the northern part of the Jammu and Kashmir.The avalanche occurred this morning in the northern-most part of the 70 square km glacier that forms the tri-junction of India, Pakistan and China.The Madras Regiment is stationed at the spot where the avalanche occurred. One post on the Army – a stone bunker – has gone under the glacier. Rescue teams of the Indian Army, the Army aviation helicopters and the Indian Air Force helicopters have been pressed into service.One Junior Commissioner Officer (JCO) and nine other ranks of the Indian Army came under the avalanche, Defence PRO at Udhampur-based Northern Command Col SD Goswami said.The area has no loose snow, an avalanche at that height occurs when ice blocks move down from the heights.The average altitude in the area is 20,000 feet and day time temperatures are minus 20 degrees Celsius. Indian troops had occupied the glacier in 1984 after fears that Pakistan Army was trying the same. A 109-km long divide between India and Pakistan is called the actual ground position line (AGPL).Last month, four soldiers of 3 Ladakh Scouts were killed when their patrol party was hit by a massive avalanche in the Ladkah region of Jammu and Kashmir.In 2012, an avalanche on the Pakistani side had caused the deaths of more 30 people. — With PTI inputs

Our Correspondent,Chamba, February 2

The NCC cadet Ojasvi Sharma of Chamba won the first position in the Best Cadet competition in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.The banner was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ojasvi in New Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day. Ojasvi also got gold in the Army senior category.He hails from Chamba and is a student of RK Memorial National Public School. The staff and students of the school conveyed their congratulations to Ojasvi on his achievement.Professor Joginder Singh Dhiman, Chairman, Department of Mathematics, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, has been selected the Rashtriya Gaurav Award for his meritorious services in the fields of Education and Social Welfare by the India International Friendship Society. The award will be presented to Professor Dhiman on March 11 in New Delhi.Dr Dhiman has been actively engaged in teaching and research since 1993 and has guided 12 students for Ph.D. He is holding the Additional Charge of the Director, Pre-Examination Coaching Centre, HPU, and is the chief adviser of the equal opportunity cell established in the university.He has been instrumental in having collaboration of the HPU with the Forum of SC/ST legislators and parliamentarians for carrying forward various welfare activities pertaining to the students belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes. — TNS

Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, February 2

The Indian Air Force has drawn up plans to procure up to eight aerostat radar platforms to bolster low-level air and sea surveillance. The procurement process, which has been hanging fire for the past few years, comes in the backdrop of loopholes in land and maritime border management as have been revealed in terrorist strikes in Mumbai and Punjab.An aerostat is an unpowered helium-filled balloon tethered at a certain height above the ground. It is equipped with surveillance and communication equipment. It can remain deployed for a number of days at a stretch, scan a wide swath of area and is particularly effective for detecting low-flying or surface objects, making it a cost effective alternative to aircraft in peace time.A request for information issued by the Ministry of Defence a few days ago seeks a batch of four, six or eight aerostat systems, which can be deployed at an altitude of 15,000 feet and above, have network-centric compatibility so that they can be integrated into the IAF’s Air Command and Control System along with other assets and possess electronic warfare capabilities.Procurement of Aerostats was part of a series of recommendations to streamline border management and enhance surveillance capabilities in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil conflict. However, little has been achieved in this direction.The IAF procured two Aerostats from Israeli firm Rafael at a cost of Rs 338 crore and inducted them into service in 2007 and 2008. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that one of the aerostats was damaged in 2009 as standard operating procedures were not followed while bringing it down, rendering it non-operational.

HAL rolls out prototype of trainer aircraft

• Bengaluru: Public sector aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Tuesday announced rolling out the first prototype of basic trainer aircraft HTT-40. Touted as a “boost” to PM Modi’s pet theme of “Make in India”, the advances made by Hindustan Turboprop Trainer (HTT-40) will put pressure on the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is keen to make its fleet of basic trainer to consist entirely of Swiss Pilatus aircraft. TNS