New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) The Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army has paid tribute to the bravery of late Colonel Sonam Wangchuk and troops of the 3 Ladakh Scouts, recalling their valour during the Battle of Chorbat La in the Batalik Sector on May 30, 1999, a key action during the Kargil War.
In a post on X, the Corps quoted Colonel (then Major) Wangchuk’s reflection on his action, saying: “What I did at Chorbat La was my duty, not something extraordinary.” The post highlighted how the officer led from the front under extreme conditions, marking a significant early success in ‘Operation Vijay’.
It further added, “Major Sonam Wangchuk and the brave men of 3 Ladakh Scouts etched their names in history during the Battle of Chorbat La in Batalik Sector. Battling sub-zero temperatures, snow blizzards, enemy fire and impossible terrain, Maj Wangchuk led from the front to establish observation posts at Sonam-I and Sonam-II, eliminating the enemy and denying Pakistani troops control of the ridgeline on the Ladakh Range. India remembers with pride and gratitude.”
The Battle of Chorbat La, fought at extreme high altitude in glaciated terrain, was part of India’s broader efforts under ‘Operation Vijay’ to recapture strategic positions occupied by intruders during the Kargil conflict.
The Ladakh Scouts, known as the ‘Snow Warriors,’ played a crucial role in high-altitude warfare during the campaign, operating in some of the most inhospitable conditions along the Line of Control.
According to official records and military accounts, the Ladakh Scouts were among the first units deployed in the Batalik sub-sector after intrusions were detected in early May 1999. The unit conducted multiple assaults and reconnaissance missions to clear enemy positions along key ridgelines, often operating at elevations exceeding 18,000 feet amid heavy artillery fire and severe weather.
Major Wangchuk’s actions in this sector are widely credited with helping secure early tactical gains for India in the Batalik axis, where controlling ridgelines was critical to dominating access routes along the Line of Control.
A decorated officer of the Indian Army and one of Ladakh’s most respected military figures, Colonel Wangchuk was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for exceptional bravery during ‘Operation Vijay’. Popularly known as the ‘Lion of Ladakh,’ he is remembered for his fearless leadership in the 1999 Kargil War, especially during the Battle of Chorbat La in the Batalik sector, where his actions became part of military history.
–IANS
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