Date of Birth
24 March 1977
Balidan Diwas
19 November 2002
Place of Supreme Sacrifice
Poonch Sector, Jammu and Kashmir
State of Origin
Gurgaon, Haryana
Unit / Regiment
7 Jat Battalion
Operation
Operation Rakshak
Biography
Umang Bhardwaj was born in Garauli village, Gurgaon, Haryana, and came from a distinguished military family. He pursued education at Army schools and Army Public School, Delhi Cantt, before graduating from Delhi University with an MBA. Despite lucrative corporate offers, he chose military service, joining the Indian Military Academy and commissioning into the Army Service Corps on December 11, 1999. Deployed in the Poonch sector during counter-insurgency operations, Captain Bhardwaj led an ambush on the night of November 18-19, 2002, against infiltrating terrorists. Displaying exceptional courage, he personally initiated the ambush and neutralized six terrorists. While pursuing a fleeing terrorist, he sustained multiple bullet wounds but continued fighting until the threat was eliminated. Captain Umang Bhardwaj made the supreme sacrifice at the age of 25, having demonstrated professionalism, inspiring leadership, and exceptional gallantry.