Rattan Chand

Biography

Grenadier Rattan Chand hailed from Garhi village in Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir. He joined the Army on 17 August 1981 and was recruited into the 18 Grenadiers Battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. By 1999, he had served over seventeen years in various challenging operational areas. During the Kargil War, the 18 Grenadiers, under Col Kushal Thakur, were tasked with capturing the formidable Tiger Hill complex in the Drass sector — a dominating feature from which Pakistani intruders were directing artillery onto National Highway 1A. On the night of 4/5 July 1999, Gdr Rattan Chand's section, led by Hav Madan Lal, was assigned to capture the eastern flank of Tiger Hill. Facing gradients of 70-80 degrees at an altitude of around 16,500 feet, the team established a fire support base and, using mountaineering equipment, assaulted the summit under precise enemy fire, reaching the top in six hours. This daring approach from an unexpected direction disoriented the enemy. During intense firing, Gdr Rattan Chand was critically injured and later succumbed. His courageous attack enabled his section to capture two bunkers, aiding in the eventual fall of Tiger Hill. He was awarded the Mention-in-Dispatches for his gallantry and supreme sacrifice.