Havildar Udham Singh, a Dogra from Himachal Pradesh , got his name added to the roll of honour, when he won the Vir Chakra during the Kargil War.

 

 

Udham Singh, son of Nand Lal, was born on March 16, 1959, in Cheri village of Bilaspur district in Himachal. He passed his matric from Government High School, Bilaspur, and was enrolled in the 18th Battalion of the Grenadiers Infantry Regiment, a regiment which has the distinction of giving three Param Virs to the Indian Army.

 

 

 

 

During June 1999, Hav Udham Singh’s unit was deployed in Drass sector. Tololing feature was indicative of the deepest penetration made by Pakistan in Drass sector. 18 Grenadiers was tasked to capture Hump and also provide support to 18 Garhwal Rifles in its attack on Point 5140. Hav Udham Singh became part of the team that was tasked to capture Hump feature.

 

 

 

 

Seeing this, Havildar Udham Singh reacted immediately. Ordering his troops to keep engaging the enemy position, he with a small team, crawled towards the enemy position from the flank. He halted his team close to enemy sangar and himself inched closer to lob a hand grenade inside. His movement was however noticed by the enemy who fired incessantly causing severe injuries to him.

 

 

Without caring for his wounds, he rushed upto the enemy sangar and lobbed a hand grenade and fired from his personal weapon from close range killing three occupants and called his men to charge ahead. In the process, he succumbed to his injuries but not before paving way for the capture of the important tactical feature Hump, which later facilitated capture of Point 5140.