Mangat Singh Bhandari

Biography

Naik Mangat Singh Bhandari hailed from Sirmauriya village in the Thalisain tehsil of Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, and was born on 10 July 1968. Drawn to military service from his younger days, he joined the Army after completing his schooling and was recruited into the 18 Garhwal Rifles Battalion of the renowned Garhwal Rifles Regiment. By 1999 he had served about 13 years across varied operational terrain. In June 1999, during Operation Vijay in the Kargil War, his battalion was inducted into the Drass sector under 56 Mountain Brigade. As part of the assault to capture Point 4700 and Tommy on the night of 28/29 June 1999, Naik Mangat Singh advanced under intense artillery and automatic fire toward heavily fortified, well-entrenched enemy positions. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued for the capture of the bunkers. Displaying outstanding courage and determination, he and his comrades captured both Point 4700 and Tommy by 0400 hours on 29 June 1999. During the assault he was severely injured and soon succumbed to his wounds, laying down his life at the age of 30 in the line of duty.