Colonel Narendra ''Bull'' Kumar (Retd), who secured Siachen glacier for India, died at Army Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in Delhi on Thursday at the age 87. He played an important role in launching Indian Army's Operation Meghdoot to got control over the dominating heights of Siachen Glacier in 1984.
Born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, Col Kumar was commissioned into the Kumoan regiment in 1953.
"First to report on Pakistani mischief in Siachen sending patrol and mountaineering expeditions to the Glacier area. India was thus able to pre-empt Pakistani attempt to occupy Saltoro Range… Salute!,” said former Army Chief Gen V.P. Malik on Twitter.
His recce expedition to Siachen detected Pakistan's designs, led to launch of Op Meghdoot and saved Siachen from Pakistan occupation. His report on the strategic importance of Siachen had prompted the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to give go-ahead to Op Meghdoot on April 13, 1984. The detailed maps, plans, photos and videos made by Col Narendra Kumar and his team during multiple visits in the previous few years had immensely helped Indian Army's action in the world's highest battlefield.
Operation Meghdoot was launched to capture the 76.4 km-long glacier on the Saltoro ridge when a platoon of 4 Kumaon led by then Captain Sanjay Kulkarni planted the Indian flag at Bilafond La. Army had named the battalion headquarters on glacier at an altitude of 16,000 feet as ‘Kumar base’, which is a rare honour for a serving officer.
An avid mountaineer, he was the first Indian to climb Mount Nanda Devi and then climbed Mt Everest in 1965, Mt Blanc the highest peak in the Alps, and later Mt Kangchenchanga from the toughest North East spur.
His colleagues recalled that he climbed up all these peaks despite losing four toes due to frost bite in earlier expeditions. As member of the Antarctica Task Force of 1981, Col Kumar's contribution was also appreciated.
An army officer said that during his tenure in High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg in late 1970s, a German explorer showed him a US map of northern Kashmir in which Siachen was showed Pakistan territory in the Line of Control (LoC).
Col Kumar was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, in 1965. He has been decorated with Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Kirti Chakra and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). He is also a recipient of the Mac Gregor Medal awarded to armed forces personnel for valuable military reconnaissance. The battalion headquarters on the glacier located close to an altitude of 16,000 feet is named 'Kumar post’ in his honour.
Col Kumar is survived by his wife and daughter.