Balidan Diwas
22 March 1986
Place of Supreme Sacrifice
Siachen Glacier, Saltoro Ridge
State of Origin
Bhiwani, Haryana
Service Number
3161673
Unit / Regiment
11 Jat, The Jat Regiment
Operation
Operation Meghdoot
War / Conflict
Siachen Conflict
Biography
Shyam Lal hailed from Bhiwani district, Haryana. He served with the 11 Jat Battalion during Operation Meghdoot on the Siachen Glacier, one of the world's most hostile terrains. Embodying the highest traditions of the Indian Army, Havildar Shyam Lal led his men with exceptional courage in extreme conditions. On March 22, 1986, while on patrol, he and his team were caught in a devastating avalanche triggered by enemy shelling. The brutal sub-zero temperatures and relentless conditions made rescue impossible. Four of his fellow soldiers — Naik Fateh Singh, Sepoy Raj Bir, Sepoy Satyavir Singh, and Sepoy Prem Chand Dular — also perished in this tragic incident.