While reaching Kargil, I realized the gravity of the war: Bhat

Udaneshwara Bhat, the brave soldier who took part in the Kargil war

Today is ‘Kargil Vijay Divas’ (July 26^th 1999). During the Kargil war, many soldiers fought for the country and amongst them was a brave soldier named Udaneshwara Bhat, a resident of Parenki Dota in Belthangady. Though he carried his duties in the technical division he did enter fully armed into the battlefield and shares his experience during the Kargil war. Presently, he is self employed and has an auto works shop in Basavanagudi.

Belthangady: Then I was 28 years old. 10 years had passed since I had joined the army. Since I was experienced I got the call to take part in the Kargil war. Two days had passed since the war had begun. The army required Bofors guns. So we left for Kargil on receiving the direction to take the guns there. Until then, I had not witnessed a difficult war. While reaching Kargil, I realized the gravity of the war, said Udaneshwara Bhat, remembering his war days.

 Cannot tolerate friend’s death

We were travelling with the Bofors guns in a truck from Srinagar to Kargil. Just as we were reaching Kargil, the track in front of us was bombed. The vehicle fell into a 300 feet deep valley and was destroyed. We could feel the tongues of flame. A few soldiers died. Of them, my close friend G.K. Singh died. Remembering our duty, we carried on to Kargil battlefield which was slightly away and reached the base camp, he explains.

The responsibility to bring the injured soldiers’ back to base camp

Ours was the electronic mechanical engineers team and we were responsible for the war equipment. Mostly our work was in the base camp. We used to visit battlefields to repair tankers, rifles and other war equipment. Being armed we used to give return fire when confronted by an attack. Though we had not directly taken part, we had the experience of the war. We also had the responsibility of bringing the injured and dead soldiers back to the base camp. I have carries 25-30 soldiers. There was no time for food. There was only one time food and bathing, once a week. I had spent a week without sleep, says Bhat.

Military journey

With a great wish to join the army, after completing PUC, Udaneshwara Bhat got selected to the military training school. He received primary training at Secunderabad in 1993. Followed by technical training at Hyderabad, hewas posted at Himachal Pradesh. He was later posted at Rajouri sector in Jammu Kashmir, followed by Kargil war and then Jhansi. He was later posted at Kupwara sector for 4 years. He has the satisfaction of giving 18 years service in the army, post which he retired. He says that his father Subhramanya Bhat’s encouragement is the reason behind his service to the country. He is currently leading his life with his wife Mamatha, daughter Umamaheswari and son Murali Karthik.