Sepoy Man Singh

As part of the ongoing Operation Meghdoot, launched in April 1984 to secure the Siachen Glacier, Sepoy Man Singh was stationed along the strategically vital Saltoro Ridge. The operation stemmed from a long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over the Siachen Glacier, a region of immense strategic importance. Following the UN-brokered ceasefire of 1949, the Karachi Agreement established the ceasefire line (CFL) in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the easternmost section of the CFL, beyond a point known as NJ9842, was left undefined, with the agreement ambiguously stating that the line would run “thence north to the glaciers.

By 1986, Sepoy Man Singh was deployed to one of the harshest and most unforgiving terrains on Earth—the Saltoro Ridge. The conditions here were brutal, with temperatures plunging well below freezing and soldiers battling relentless snowstorms, blizzards, and the ever-present threat of avalanches. Adding to the peril was the constant risk of unprovoked shelling by Pakistani forces. Every mission and patrol demanded extraordinary endurance and courage, as survival itself was a daily challenge. On March 13, 1986, while leading a patrol in the treacherous terrain of the Siachen Glacier, Sepoy Man Singh and his team faced one of the region’s deadliest hazards—an avalanche triggered by enemy shelling. Nb Sub Nafe Singh led the patrol when the avalanche struck with devastating force, burying several soldiers under a massive blanket of snow and ice.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Sepoy Man Singh displayed remarkable courage and resilience, tirelessly working to free his comrades from the snow. However, the extreme conditions—blinding snowstorms, bone-chilling cold, and the crushing weight of the snow—made rescue efforts nearly impossible. Tragically, he eventually became trapped beneath the thick snow. A large-scale rescue operation was immediately launched, with soldiers from nearby units working relentlessly to locate and save those buried. However, the merciless elements of the glacier proved insurmountable. Despite their best efforts, Sepoy Man Singh, along with Nb Sub Nafe Singh and several other soldiers, succumbed to the unforgiving conditions. The brave soldiers of the 11 Jat Battalion who made the ultimate sacrifice that day included Naik Risal Singh, Naik Pema Ram, Sepoy Ram Pratap, Sepoy Dilbag Singh, Sepoy Balga Nand, and Sepoy Ram Singh Sheoran. Their sacrifices epitomize the selflessness and valour of the Indian Army.

Sepoy Man Singh Bhaskar is survived by his wife, Smt. Ram Payari Devi.