Kargil War: Blasted By 2 Grenades, Shot Thrice—Then Yogendra Yadav Heard ‘Jump In The Drain'
Determined to fight back, Yogendra Yadav killed half a dozen Pakistani soldiers. Crawling ahead, he found no survivors—his comrades had lost their lives in the line of duty
In a dramatic turn of events during the Kargil War, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav of the Indian Army displayed extraordinary bravery, surviving against all odds and turning the tide of the battle. Despite being severely injured by two enemy grenades—one damaging his leg below the knee and the other causing a cut from nose to ear—Yadav's ordeal did not end there. Pakistani soldiers then fired bullets at him, hitting his arm, thigh, and chest. Miraculously, Yadav survived these attacks.
Determined to fight back, Yadav killed half a dozen Pakistani soldiers. Crawling forward, he hoped to find survivors among his comrades but discovered they had lost their lives in the line of duty. Despite his injuries, he crawled ahead and came across enemy tents stocked with soldiers, weapons, and supplies.
As he crawled forward, Yadav found himself disoriented. Unsure of his next move, he paused briefly. Then, hearing a voice instructing him to jump into a nearby drain, he did so without hesitation. Moments later, he was spotted and assisted by Indian soldiers.
During the day, Yadav remained concerned about the possibility of being captured by Pakistani forces. Soon after, he encountered a group of Indian soldiers, some of whom he recognised. They began administering first aid, though his condition appeared critical. As the effects of the painkillers intensified, his vision blurred and he began to feel cold. A doctor arrived shortly after and gave him a full bottle of glucose to stabilise him.
Treatment had begun, and Yadav slowly started regaining consciousness. Just then, he heard a voice asking if he could recognise anything. He responded that he couldn't see, only hear the voice. The person introduced himself as Colonel Khushal Chandra Thakur, his commanding officer, and asked Yadav if he could recount what had happened. Yadav narrated the entire situation.
When asked what he needed at the post, Yadav replied that he required only ammunition and field bandages. The colonel then asked why he didn't ask for food. Yadav said he wasn't hungry—he had eaten only half a biscuit in the last 72 hours, and the other half was still with him.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav displayed extraordinary courage that helped turn the tide of the Kargil War. In recognition of his bravery, skill, and resilience, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra—India's highest military honour—on July 4, 1999. At just 19 years old, he became the youngest ever recipient of the award.
First Published:
July 03, 2025, 15:54 IST
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