25 July 1999 / Martyrdom Day: Remembering Naik Kaushal Yadav’s Supreme Sacrifice in the Kargil War
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A day ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the nation remembers the supreme sacrifice of Vir Chakra awardee Naik Kaushal Yadav, who laid down his life on 25 July 1999 while leading the assault to capture the strategically important Zulu Top during Operation Vijay. His exceptional courage and selfless devotion to duty played a decisive role in the success of the mission.
Naik Kaushal Yadav was the squad commander of a Team which was tasked to capture Zulu Top on 25 July 99 during Op Vijay.
The objective was at a height of 5100 meters with no approaches from own side. The sheer vertical slopes made the cliff assault extremely difficult, which was further compounded by minus 15-degree temperature and extensive enemy minefields.
Under such adverse conditions, Naik Kaushal Yadav’s squad was tasked to gain a foothold on top of Zulu Top from the western approach. Using his extraordinary mountaineering skills he led his squad and opened a route for his comrades to follow.
Naik Kaushal Yadav’s squad was on Zulu Top complex by 0500 hours when, from a rocky knob north of Zulu Top complex, his squad came under heavy automatic fire. Naik Kaushal Yadav, realizing that the enemy was trying to evict him from his foothold, personally led his squad from the front for assaulting the well-entrenched enemy.
On reaching the enemy fire position he leapt forward towards the enemy with total disregard to his own safety, lobbing grenades into their sangar and firing from the hip. The enemy was shocked by the ferocious charge and, in a deadly exchange of fire at close quarters, Naik Kaushal Yadav personally killed five enemy soldiers. In the process he too was grievously wounded and made the supreme sacrifice, but his action ensured the capture of Zulu Top.
Naik Kaushal Yadav displayed courage, bravery and valour of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.