By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Leh, 10 Oct: In a function held at Leh’s prestigious NDS Indoor Stadium, jampacked with Ladakh university students, army and air force jawans, top military brass, local sportspersons, and dignitaries, the Ladakh Lt Governor flagged off the IAF-UWM Rally for Srinagar.
The function was held under the banner of the Ladakh UT Administration and the Chief Guest was Lt Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier BD Mishra (Retd). The Youth and Sports Secretary, Vikram Singh Malik, welcomed all IAF-UWM delegates. Amongst the high level dignitaries present were Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Tashi Gyalsen, UWM Chairman Tarun Vijay, Commander of the Ladakh Air Force Station, Air Commodore DS Handa, former Leh MP Jamyang, Tsering Namgyal, and Chief of NHIDCL Nirman Jambhulkar.
Tarun Vijay introduced the IAF car rally team to the Lt Governor, including the rally leader, Wing Commander Vijay Prakash Bhatt.
The rally had travelled from the Siachen air base, Thoise, crossing the world’s highest pass Khardungla to Leh with roars of Bharat Mata Ki Jai. The rally song, ‘Jai Hind Ki Vayu Sena’, was also played before the Lt Governor and the packed auditorium. Lt Gov Mishra welcomed the Air warriors and the army warriors driving in the rally, with two exceptionally talented woman officers – Lt Col Ashwini Pawar (Everest Summiteer) and Major Swati, both, ace mountaineers. He said that this rally would ignite the minds of the youth to join the armed forces and spread the correct and inspiring saga about the great achievements of the IAF.
The rally was flagged off on its journey to Srinagar and Dehradun. The capital city of Dehradun is being decked up to welcome the air warriors and several ex-soldiers’ organisations, students, colleges and ministers, are expected to attend the rally reception at Shaurya Sthal, Uttarakhand War Memorial.
