Veteran skater Gopal Bhardwaj with children in Mussoorie on Sunday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 14

Veteran roller skaters have dedicated their 42nd Mussoorie-Delhi rally to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa for his supreme sacrifice of life at Siachen Glacier.Hanumanthappa was dug out alive from the snow, when an avalanche hit a team of Army soldiers at Siachen Glaciers, a few days back. However, he could not survive after an immense struggle at the Army Hospital in New Delhi. This year’s rally is dedicated to him, said Gopal Bhardwaj, a veteran roller skater.He also skated around the rink wearing his roller skates at Garhwal terrace as mark of respect to the martyr and the soldiers who lost their lives at Siachen.Gopal Bhardwaj said on this day 42 years ago five roller skaters embarked on the 350 km journey fromMussoorie to Delhi. The anniversary is held to remember that feet every year. He said the objective of the rally was to appeal youth to stay away from drugs and other vices and instead involve themselves in physical activities like roller skating.Anand Mishra, Gurdarshan Jaiswal, Gopal Bhardwaj, Singara Singh and GS Hora were other members of the team.

Doon alumnus promoted as Air Marshal

Air Marshal RD Mathur

Dehradun, February 14

Air Vice Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur, who was the Assistant Chief of Air Staff in charge of the Air Warfare Strategy Cell, has been promoted to the post of Air Marshal.Air Marshal RD Mathur, an alumnus of Cambrian Hall and St Joseph’s Academy, Dehradun, topped the ICSE batch of 1976 and joined the NDA in 1978.Having topped the BSc course at the NDA, he was later commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1982. The officer has over 5,000 hours of flying experience in a variety of operational and training roles.Air Marshal RD Mathur has served as the Air Defence Commander at HQ Eastern Air Command and commanded a frontline air force station and a fighter aircraft squadron.He underwent postgraduate courses at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi, and holds MSc and MPhil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University.For his meritorious service, he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014 by the President of India. — TNS