LOC: Kargil

Desperate radio chatter erupts from an Indian base on the Line of Control as patrols vanish and the front line braces for a response. The gravity of the threat becomes clear, prompting plans for a mobilized response from Delhi. The opening sequence sets the stage for a drawn-out high-altitude confrontation.

Planners realize a full-scale mobilization is necessary, yet they must operate under orders forbidding crossing the LoC. Battalion and brigade commanders debate the best path forward within these constraints. The stage is set for a meticulous, limited offensive to reclaim occupied peaks.

The 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles arrives under Col Lalit Rai, with Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey at the forefront. They push patrols into contested terrain and strike at Kukarthang post, a heavily defended outpost ringed by mortars and artillery. The assault yields costly casualties but establishes a foothold for the operation.

The assault reveals that the infiltration is far larger than first thought; estimates suggest thousands of Pakistani troops are involved. Frontline shelling intensifies as the plan expands beyond initial targets. The tension between audacious courage and grim losses becomes the defining mood.

The Tololing fight begins with 18 Grenadiers and 16 Grenadiers attempting to seize the ridge that dominates NH 1D. Thick fog, brutal shelling, and stubborn defenders slow the progress, and Maj. Adhikari and Lt. Col. Vishwanathan die in the early assaults. Repeated attempts to push through meet with fierce resistance.

The 2nd Rajputana Rifles relieves the 18 Grenadiers, bringing artillery support and fresh manpower. They mount a multi-pronged attack to inch closer to Tololing and surrounding objectives. The operation carries heavy losses but edges Indian forces toward their goals.

13 JAK Rif and 17 Jat undertake separate but significant actions, suffering casualties while taking rocky positions and later securing important peaks. Their efforts broaden the offensive and disrupt enemy defenses. The fighting underscores the scale of the operation along multiple ridges.

The Indian Air Force conducts reconnaissance and air sorties as Operation Safed Sagar unfolds. Air power provides critical eyes and additional firepower for ground troops, shaping the tempo of the battles.

Tiger Hill becomes the focal point as a clandestine, precision-driven Ghatak operation led by Yogendra Singh Yadav breaks through. The assault is brutal and costly, and only one member survives to link up with the battalion. The moment epitomizes the grit of the special operations teams in the war.

The final pushes see 1/11 GR pushing toward Khalubar Ridge while 13 JAK Rif threads through bunker complexes, and 18 Grenadiers with support from 8 Sikh and 1/11 Gorkha Rifles execute a sweeping assault on Tiger Hill. The coordination of artillery, air support, and infantry underlines the climactic phase of the campaign.

Lt. Pandey leads a morale-boosting effort to neutralize bunkers, but is killed in action as the assault progresses. His sacrifice becomes a symbol of courage for his unit and the broader campaign. The battle continues with renewed resolve.

After weeks of brutal fighting and consolidation, Indian forces reclaim the high ground and restore tactical advantage along the LoC. On 14 July 1999, Operation Vijay is officially declared a success. The campaign ends with India holding the regained peaks and reestablishing control along critical routes.