At 0700 hours on 13th April, 1984 the Indian tricolour had been planted on Bilafond La,
the most strategic point on the Saltoro Ridge;
this was in the first 2 hours of the launch of Operation Meghdoot.
However, within 3 hours of landing, they had to evacuate
their radio operator who suffered from HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema)
despite being trained,
Now Capt. Kulkarni had a radio, but no radio operator.
29 men remained at Bilafond-La but tragedy struck within 48 hours,
when another soldier died of Hypoxia
and they were down to 28.
And of these 28, 21 had got severe frostbite.
Capt. Sanjay Kulkarni, well established with his platoon on Bilafond-la had put a system in place
where every hour the sentry would come and give a report
and Kulkarni would respond by saying ‘ok’ or ‘Ram Ram’.
He had posted one sentry at the edge of the pass,
about 500 metres from where the tents were pitched called the listening post.
The sentry would stand at the farthest point possible
to look out for any Pakistan troop movement.
From that position the sentry could see
at least a kilometre into Pakistan territory.
It was a monotonous and physically demanding task.
The first serious attack came on the 23rd of June at 0450 hours.
26 Pakistani casualties were reported that day.
The Indians had lost 1 man
but this wasn’t the last attack.
In June Pakistan attempted another attack
but it was thwarted by the Indians.
In August 1984 2 more attacks were mounted by Pakistan
but they were foiled on both accounts,
the whole of Siachin was now under the control of the Indian Army.
Days after the attack on 23rd June,
Capt. Kulkarni got a call from Lt. Col. Pushkar Chand on the radio set.
He was asked to come down to Base camp.
Capt. Kulkarni refused initially
because he knew going down meant climbing up again.
Pushkar insisted and Kulkarni had to go down to the Task Force HQ.
Mighty pleased and filled with pride
She sent Capt. Sanjay Kulkarni to Europe for a break for his efforts and bravery.
