Major Sankalp Yadav SM

In 2022, Major Sankalp Yadav was serving with the 663 Army Aviation Squadron of the Army Aviation Corps, based at Srinagar (Shalateng Garrison) in Jammu & Kashmir. The squadron operated the HAL Cheetah helicopter, a single-engine aircraft of 1970s vintage derived from the French Alouette. The Cheetah was known for its high performance across a wide range of weight, centre of gravity, and altitude conditions. This five-seater helicopter was versatile and multi-role in nature—capable of undertaking communication flights, observation and surveillance tasks, logistics support, casualty evacuation, rescue missions, and high-altitude operations. Its manoeuvrability and rugged construction made it particularly suitable for deployment in the challenging terrain of Jammu & Kashmir. On 11 March 2022, Major Sankalp Yadav and his Commanding Officer, Lt Col Vivek Kumar Dwivedi, were assigned a high-altitude casualty evacuation mission. The task involved evacuating an ailing BSF soldier from a forward post at Chorogah near the Line of Control (LoC) in Bandipora district. The post was situated at a high altitude in a remote and inaccessible region, where air support was often the only viable means of evacuation.

The crew took off as planned in the Cheetah helicopter. The mission proceeded smoothly during the initial phase; however, while operating in the Baraub area near Gurez, the aircraft developed a technical snag. Communication contact with the forward post at Gujran was lost, and it appeared that the engine had malfunctioned, rendering the helicopter difficult to control. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter crashed in the Baraub area of Gurez in Bandipora district. Both Major Sankalp Yadav and Lt Col Vivek Kumar Dwivedi sustained severe injuries in the crash and were immediately evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for advanced medical treatment. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, Major Sankalp Yadav succumbed to his injuries and was martyred in the line of duty at the young age of 29. A committed soldier and a professionally skilled pilot, Major Sankalp Yadav exemplified courage, devotion to duty, and selfless service. In recognition of his exceptional bravery and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal on 15 August 2022.

Maj Sankalp Yadav is survived by his father, Shri Surendra Kumar Yadav, mother Smt Usha Yadav and elder brother Shri Rohish Yadav.