President Droupadi Murmu laying a wreath on the Siachen War Memorial. (Photo: Rashtrapati Bhavan)
New Delhi: The president, Droupadi Murmu, visited the Indian Army’s Siachen base camp, on Thursday. At the base camp, she met the soldiers stationed in the challenging terrain and expressed her pride in their commitment to defending the nation.
Murmu is the third president to visit the base camp of the world’s highest battlefield. Before her, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Ram Nath Kovind were the other two presidents who visited the place, known for its bone-chilling cold climate, hostile environment, and inhospitable terrain.
During her address to the troops, the president, who is also the supreme commander of India’s armed forces, lauded the them for their perseverance and bravery in extreme conditions, including sub-zero temperatures reaching as low as –50-degrees celsius.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Siachen Base Camp and addressed the soldiers posted there. The President said that as the supreme commander of the armed forces, she felt very proud of them and that all citizens salute their bravery. pic.twitter.com/SFsaTYEQji
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 26, 2024
She acknowledged their immense sacrifices and stated that all citizens of India salute their courage and dedication. “In these harsh conditions, your spirit and determination inspire the entire nation,” she said, highlighting the soldiers’ crucial role in securing the region since the Army’s Operation Meghdoot in 1984.
Dressed in military fatigues, the president also paid her respects at the Siachen War Memorial, which honours the soldiers who have lost their lives in the area. She emphasized the ongoing importance of the soldiers’ vigilance in maintaining India’s territorial integrity in such a hostile environment.
President Droupadi Murmu paid her tributes at the Siachen War Memorial. This Memorial is a symbol of the sacrifice of soldiers and officers who have been martyred since the Indian Army began Operation Meghdoot on the Siachen Glacier on April 13, 1984. pic.twitter.com/KpPEWqimE0
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 26, 2024
The president was welcomed by the lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brigadier Bal Dutt Mishra (retired), upon her arrival at the Union territory’s Thoise airfield. Her visit is seen as a morale booster for the soldiers serving in one of the most difficult military deployments in the world.
