New Delhi: Four Indian Navy personnel have been given Nao Sena gallantry awards on the occasion of Independence Day.

Captain Mrigank Sheokand when faced with an unprecedented grave emergency whilst airborne in MiG 676, his brave and selfless decisions in a span of few seconds alone ensured the safety of numerous civilians living on the ground.

Commodore Dhanush Menon was deputed to Belagavi, Karnataka as the Naval Detachment Commander for ‘Op Varsha Rahat’. Based on the information of two aged men being stranded atop a tree in the village of Haloli, the Officer took the extremely dangerous decision to reduce hover height to 125 ft displaying courage and exceptional skill to maintain the aircraft at hover for 25 minutes only 15 feet clear of the hazardous obstructions and saving the lives of two souls in distress. Lowering the rescue basket at the tight spot (between the dangers of transmission tower, roof of the shed and the tree) called for exemplary situation awareness and alacrity for a precise rescue.

Haridas Kundu -an Aircrew Diver was deployed to Belagavi, Karnataka as part of the Naval Detachment for ‘Op Varsha Rahat’. On information of two aged men being stranded atop a tree in the village of Haloli was received. Consequently, one AU 704 (ALH) was airborne in which Kundu was the rescue diver. It was a highly challenging SAR mission with low visibility, torrential rain and turbulent river current. The rescue site, inundated with water rising up to six feet, was in dangerous proximity (5 metres) to a high power transmission line and its pylons. Despite dangerous conditions and regardless of his personal safety, Kundu insisted that he be winched down amid the heavy flow of the river.

While being lowered, the rescue basket due to its swing in cross winds came in close proximity to the tree, pylon and the transmission tower, threatening a potentially fatal helicopter emergency. Showing exemplary presence of mind, amid the heavy current that threatened to sweep him off the feet, he deftly cleared the basket from obstructions preventing a disaster. Further, braving the raging current over six feet high, Kundu advanced to the barely alive survivors and rescued them from the jaws of almost certain death and safely settled them onto the rescue basket.

Naveen Kumar was a part of the team that eliminated terrorists during an operation in Kashmir. With his gallant action the sailor not only saved precious lives of own troops while upholding the highest traditions of Indian Navy but was also pivotal in successful execution of the operation.