As part of Operation Meghdoot—launched in April 1984 to secure the Siachen Glacier—Sepoy Prem Chand Dular was deployed to the Saltoro Ridge, a critical stronghold in one of the most inhospitable and strategically significant battle zones in the world. The operation was initiated to counter Pakistan’s growing territorial claims over the glacier, a dispute that had its origins in the 1949 UN-brokered Karachi Agreement. While the agreement delineated the Ceasefire Line (CFL) in Jammu and Kashmir, it left the easternmost stretch beyond NJ9842 undefined, stating ambiguously that it would extend “thence north to the glaciers.” For years, the extreme conditions of Siachen discouraged military activity, but from 1964 to 1972, Pakistan began redrawing its maps, falsely extending the CFL toward the Karakoram Pass instead of northward. This cartographic aggression led Pakistan to stake an illegitimate claim over the glacier, heightening tensions between the two nations. In response, India launched Operation Meghdoot on April 13, 1984, preemptively securing key positions in the region to prevent Pakistani forces from gaining a foothold. Using helicopters, Indian troops air-dropped into critical passes such as Bilafond La and Sia La, successfully securing approximately 3,300 square kilometers of contested territory.
By 1986, Sepoy Prem Chand Dular was stationed on the Saltoro Ridge, where soldiers endured sub-zero temperatures, relentless blizzards, avalanches, and continuous enemy shelling. Operating in such extreme conditions required extraordinary resilience, bravery, and unwavering commitment. On March 22, 1986, while part of a patrol in the perilous terrain of Siachen, Sepoy Prem Chand Dular and his team were caught in a devastating avalanche triggered by enemy shelling. A massive rescue operation was launched, but the treacherous environment claimed his life. Alongside him, four other brave soldiers of the 11 Jat Battalion—Havildar Shyam Lal, Naik Fateh Singh, Sepoy Satyavir Singh, and Sepoy Raj Bir—also made the ultimate sacrifice. This tragedy was part of a series of losses for the battalion in the days leading up to March 22. On March 19, Lance Naik Baljit Singh and Sepoy Ram Kanwar succumbed to injuries sustained in operations. On March 20, three more soldiers—Naik Bhagat Singh, Sepoy Tola Ram Khileri, and Sepoy Rameshwar—lost their lives. Finally, on March 24, Havildar Krishan Pal also succumbed to his injuries, becoming the last among this chain of fallen heroes. Sepoy Prem Chand Dular’s commendable courage and sacrifice embody the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Sepoy Prem Chand Dular is survived by his wife, Smt Sumitra Devi.
No Comments