Ashu Singh, Chief Mechanical Engineer Conferred Shaurya Chakra (Posthumously)
 |
| Ashu Singh, CME (Posthumously) |
NationalDefence Bureau
New Delhi, 25 January 2017
On 06 Mar 16, at about 1600 hrs, an incident of deck head
lagging fire accompanied with heavy smouldering occurred in the ‘B’ Boiler Room
of INS Viraat. The sailor showed exemplary courage and presence of mind in
safeguarding machinery by taking correct procedural step in crash stopping B1
boiler which was last in use and securing other machinery in the vicinity. He
took lead role in successfully fighting the fire relentlessly for 35 min with
all other watch keepers and Standing Sea Fire Party (SSFP) in the extreme harsh
conditions with intense heat and heavy smoke without thinking about his own
safety thereby averting a major disaster. He also safeguarded the life of other
fire fighters by guiding them to evacuate boiler room in time.
In the process the sailor, undeterred and unmindful of his
own life, safeguarded the life of men and propulsion machinery of the aircraft
carrier, displaying conspicuous gallantry, exemplary leadership and presented
an example of "Service before Self". The sailor displayed dauntless
courage, most conspicuous gallantry, selfless service, outstanding
professionalism and exemplary leadership disregarding the pain and suffocation
and had sacrificed his own life while ensuring safety of fellow ship mates and
the aircraft carrier.
This feat of courage by the sailor, in saving both,
personnel and the equipment at the cost of his own life is an act worthy of
recognition and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Service, and
therefore, (Late) Ashu Singh, Chief Mechanical Engineer is awarded Shaurya
Chakra (Posthumously).
NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
RAKESH KUMAR, HULL ARTIFICER 4, (502230-H)
(POSTHUMOUSLY)
 |
| Rakesh Kumar |
On 10 Jun 16, Rakesh
Kumar, Hull Artificer 4, 502230-H of INS Vikramaditya, was part of the team
assigned the task of overseeing fitment of a newly fabricated 1.2 m piece of
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) pipe by two civilian contract-workers in Cofferdam
9K6, whose horizontal dimensions measure 2.1m X 0.76m. The sailor was assigned
the task of connecting and supervising the operation of a submersible pump and
was positioned in the Power Generation Room (PGR), one deck above the
compartment containing the Cofferdam, with access to the Cofferdam being only
through a long vertical ladder that led down from a narrow hatch. During the pipe-replacement process, the
sailor heard someone shouting from the compartment below and saw a civilian
emerging from it in a semi-conscious state. The sailor went down the ladder,
picked up the civilian on his shoulder and climbed up the vertical ladder to
the PGR, laying him down under an AC vent. He then learnt that the other
civilian was also unconscious in the Cofferdam. Without any thought to his own
safety, the sailor clambered down the vertical ladder again and with no
hesitation entered the Cofferdam where he saw his team leader wearing an
Emergency Life saving Apparatus (ELSA) set and trying to pick up the civilian
worker, who was lying prone in the well of the Cofferdam, partly covered with
water. Rakesh, with all his strength, tried to lift the second civilian, but
was unable to do so as his clothes were slippery and entangled with deck
fittings in the narrow space. Despite knowing the dangers of the probable
presence in the space of toxic gas and its consequences, Rakesh did not relent
in his efforts and continued trying to bodily lift the civilian out of the
Cofferdam in the hope of saving his life. He, however, lost track of time, and
whilst continuing his vain but valiant efforts, also succumbed to the toxic gas
inhalation and collapsed inside the Cofferdam. He was extricated from the
compartment by a rescue team a few minutes later, but was unfortunately
declared dead in the hospital.
It is evident from the act of the sailor that he with scant
regard to his personal safety ventured into the congested cofferdam seeing a
civilian worker shouting in semi-conscious state. The sailor was completely
aware that the presence of dangerous and poisonous gases in the congested
enclosed space will endanger the lives of the civilians working there. Even a
moment’s delay would cause the civilians to lose their lives. Realising this,
sailor rushed to the space and lifted the first civilian on his shoulder and
climbed up the ladder and saved him. Thereafter, though the sailor was
exhausted, showing rare grit of courage and valour he ventured into the
congested space infested with the poisonous gases to save the second civilian.
Whilst continuing his vain but valiant efforts, Rakesh Kumar, Hull Artificer 4
succumbed to the toxic gas inhalation. This feat of exemplary courage by the
sailor, in saving the civilians working in the enclosed and congested space
infested with the deadly poisonous gases of H2S with scant regard to the safety
of his own life is an act worthy of recognition and is in keeping with the
highest traditions of the Service, and therefore, (Late) Rakesh Kumar, Hull
Artificer 4 is awarded Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) (Posthumously).
NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
LT CDR NEERAJ KUMAR (06143-K)
Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar (06143-K) is the NBCD Officer onboard
INS Trikand. At about 1820h on 08 June 2016, whilst transiting off Goa in heavy
weather, INS Trikand was contacted on radio by Merchant Vessel MV Infinity One
anchored off Grandi Island. MV Infinity One reported crack in starboard ship’s
side with ingress of water causing ten degrees list being aggravated by heavy
weather and swell, and requested de-flooding assistance in emergency.
Immediately, INS Trikand closed MV Infinity to render assistance. Weather was
extremely unfavourable, with heavy rain, low visibility, winds gusting to 25-29
KN, pitch dark night conditions and sea state 3-4. Undeterred by the
challenging weather conditions, Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar sprang into action and
quickly mustered a four man Damage Control (DC) team along with dewatering
pumps and leak stopping gears. During embarkation of the DC team and stores
into the ship’s boat, the boat and ship were rolling excessively in the heavy
seas and the scramble net swayed precariously throughout the descent into the
boat. Keeping his cool and displaying unflinching courage, Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar
led from the front and ensured all men and stores were loaded into the boat in
record time. Motivating his team all along the way and closely monitoring their
movements, he led the team personally on an extremely demanding transit across
the choppy seas to the marooned Merchant Vessel. Upon embarkation onboard the
Merchant Vessel at 2020h on 08 June 2016, the MV crew were assessed to be
poorly trained and motivated, with many seemingly in shock. The forward hold of
MV Infinity was half flooded and the ship was listed excessively to starboard
with sea/ swell breaking over the weather deck. The only access to the forward
hold was via a catwalk that was on the starboard edge of the weather deck,
which was constantly awash with sea and spray. Catwalk and upper decks were
caked with bitumen dust from the ship’s cargo, which along with the heel to
starboard, aggravated by the pitch black night and falling rain created
treacherous underfoot conditions. The Forward Hold itself was in complete
darkness and was accessible only via a narrow lobby above. All onboard pumps of
the MV had burned out or suctions were choked by bitumen cargo in the hold.
Displaying tremendous professional poise and composure in such trying
conditions, Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar marshalled his team expertly and swiftly rigged
up portable submersible pumps in the forward hold of the MV. When MV crew were
unable to provide power supply for the pumps, Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar and his team
proactively took matters into their own hands, searched all nearby
compartments, identified compatible supply breakers and rigged up direct
electrical tapping from those points to energise the pumps. After two hours of
sustained de-flooding of the forward hold using the pumps operationalised by Lt
Cdr Neeraj and his crew, the list of the MV was observed to gradually reduce
and by 0315h on 09 June 2016, the list had reduced to five degrees and the MV
was declared out of the danger by the Master.
Military leadership, courage in adversity and ability to
overcome all odds displayed by Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar are in the best traditions
of the naval service. Technical and seamanship skills as well as sheer guts
displayed by the officer ensured successful rescue of a Merchant Vessel in
distress at sea and saved the lives of all 14 MV seamen of Indian nationality.
For his intrepid leadership and bravery, Lt Cdr Neeraj Kumar is awarded Nao
Sena Medal (Gallantry).
Ashu Singh, Chief Mechanical Engineer Conferred Shaurya Chakra (Posthumously)
Reviewed by National Defence Hindi
on
22:07:00
Rating:
Reviewed by National Defence Hindi
on
22:07:00
Rating:
No comments: