Drass (Ladakh), Jul 26 (KNO): On the occasion of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas, a padyatra and several commemorative events were held in Drass to mark the day India concluded Operation Vijay in 1999.
The events, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), were organised by Mera Yuva Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth led a 1.5-kilometre padyatra from Himabass Public High School to Government Higher Secondary School, Bhimbet. More than 1,000 participants took part in the march, including youth volunteers, serving and retired Armed Forces personnel, family members of soldiers who lost their lives in the war, and local residents.
The ministers, accompanied by 100 youth volunteers, later visited the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, where Sanjay Seth laid a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives during the conflict. In a social media post, he said the stories of the soldiers would continue to guide future generations.
Families of soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 war also gathered at Lamochen Viewpoint to pay their respects. The solemn gathering included recollections from family members and served as a community platform to remember those who did not return.
Speaking during the events in Drass, Mandaviya urged the youth of the country to commit themselves to national service. He said, “We have always been victorious. Being victorious is our nature.” He added that the padyatra was meant to send a message to the youth across the country to take responsibility towards the nation seriously.
Seth, who joined Mandaviya and LAHDC Kargil Chairman Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon during the march, addressed those gathered and reflected on the events of 1999. "The country remembers the actions taken by Pakistan on May 6, 1999, and the response given by Indian soldiers," he said. "India had responded through surgical strikes, air strikes, and operations such as Sindoor."
The minister said the Kargil conflict area, including Drass, was at the centre of military operations and that the Indian Army had reclaimed the occupied positions through determined action. "The country stands with the soldiers currently stationed at the borders, and recognises the continued role they play in protecting the country," he added.
Earlier in the day, local administration officials, students, youth groups, and civil society members gathered for the official programmes, which included tributes, flag hoisting, and a remembrance ceremony.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) also marked the occasion by releasing a video tribute showcasing scenes from the war and a collection titled “The War Diary in Photographs.”
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on July 26 to commemorate the end of the Kargil War in 1999. The war lasted for more than two months and concluded with India regaining control of strategic heights that had been occupied by Pakistani soldiers—(KNO)