Naik Vijay Kumar Singh

Naik Vijay Kumar Singh hailed from Hankar Tola village in Bhojpur district, Bihar. Born on 17 Jan 1968 into a family with a strong military background, he was the son of Shri Mukhan Singh, a veteran of the 4th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment. Growing up in an environment where patriotism and service to the nation were deeply ingrained, he was inspired by his father’s legacy and developed a strong desire to serve in the Indian Army. After completing his schooling, Naik Vijay Kumar Singh followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Bihar Regiment, a prestigious infantry regiment of the Indian Army known for its gallantry and battle honors. He was recruited into the 5 Bihar Battalion, where he underwent rigorous training and honed his skills as a soldier.

Over the years, he displayed exceptional dedication, discipline, and courage, which earned him respect among his peers and superiors. With his unwavering commitment, he steadily rose through the ranks and attained the rank of Naik by the year 2002. Alongside his military career, he built a family life and got married to Ms Mina Devi. The couple was blessed with three sons and one daughter: Amit Kumar Singh –Pankaj Kumar Singh- Vikash Kumar Singh – and  Anita Kumari.

Operation Parakram (Naugam Sector): 24 Feb 2003

In 2012, Naik Vijay Kumar Singh’s unit was deployed in the Naugam Sector of Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir, as part of "Operation Parakram". This region, located along the Line of Control (LoC), was highly prone to infiltration by militants from across the border. As a result, the unit had to remain in a constant state of high alert, conducting surveillance and patrols to prevent enemy incursions. The forward posts of the battalion were situated in high-altitude areas, where soldiers had to endure extreme weather conditions. The region was notorious for unpredictable snow blizzards and avalanches, making survival even more challenging. In the last week of February 2003, an intense snowstorm hit J&K, including Naugam Sector, blanketing the entire area under several feet of snow. The storm was accompanied by multiple avalanches in the Kargil sector, cutting off key road links and devastating several army posts. Avalanche strikes were reported in Kaksar, Kharboo, Mushkoh, and Handurman, burying several bunkers along the LoC. The crisis worsened when a mild earthquake followed the snowfall, causing further destruction and trapping numerous soldiers in their posts.

On 24 February 2003, Naik Vijay Kumar Singh and his comrades were on duty when a massive avalanche struck their post. The sudden force and scale of the avalanche caught the soldiers off guard, giving them no time to react or take preventive measures. Within moments, tons of snow buried their post, trapping them underneath. As soon as the disaster struck, the Army launched an immediate rescue operation, deploying specialized teams equipped with advanced snow-clearing tools and thermal sensors. Despite the hazardous conditions, the rescuers worked tirelessly to extricate the trapped soldiers. Some were successfully pulled out alive, but Naik Vijay Kumar Singh had already succumbed to the extreme cold and suffocation caused by prolonged burial under snow. His courage, dedication, and selfless service in the face of extreme adversity will always be remembered. Naik Vijay Kumar Singh made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at the age of 35 years, upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army. 

Naik Vijay Kumar Singh  is survived by his wife Smt Mina Devi, sons: Amit Kumar Singh (Currently serving in the Indian Army (5 Bihar), Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh, & Shri Vikash Kumar Singh, and daughter Smt Anita Kumari.