00:00Day 6 began in Kargil, the city that was the focal point in the year 1999 and as they say
00:13the rest is history.
00:15The district itself is steeped in history and valour.
00:23A wreath laying ceremony by the 101 regulars at the iconic Kargil War Memorial was an absolute
00:29tribute to those who were not just course mates but family.
00:44Brothers in arms who stayed together through thick and thin, sadly gone too soon but never
00:51forgotten.
00:58Following the flag off ceremony, the riders set off towards Leh, the most strategic zone
01:03that provides the logistical support to the defence forces.
01:09There are two routes to reach Leh.
01:11One is the Kargil-Leh highway and the other is what the riders chose, the challenging
01:17route through the Batalik sector.
01:20This again served as a mark of respect for the heroes of the war.
01:39The first stopover was at Hambutingla, serving as a gateway to the strategic Batalik sector.
01:51This sector's importance stems from its proximity to the Line of Control and its high-altitude
01:57rugged terrain.
01:59Batalik, the name immediately brings these vivid visuals in front of our eyes.
02:09This sector was one of the key battle zones during the Kargil War of 1999.
02:15The Indus river flows through this sector, entering Pakistan at just a stone's throw
02:20distance.
02:22The river, along with the challenging terrain of the Kalua range, posed significant logistical
02:28and operational challenges for the Indian Armed Forces.
02:32It was the Batalik sector where it was first discovered that there's something fishy at
02:37the higher reaches.
02:39Acting on tip-off from Tashi Namgyal, a local shepherd from Gharkon village, who was searching
02:45for his missing yak when he spotted the camouflaged Pakistani intruders near Ganasok, the Indian
02:52Army was promptly pressed into action.
02:55This Kalua ridge still echoes with the valiant efforts of Indian soldiers, including Captain
03:01Manoj Pandey, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his extraordinary
03:06bravery and leadership during the Kargil War.
03:10Despite limited resources and initial lack of artillery support, our brave soldiers from
03:151st 11 Gorkha Rifles, 12th J&K Light Infantry and 1 Bihar, under the leadership of Brigadier
03:23Devinder Singh from the 70th Infantry Brigade, managed to chase away nearly 800 Pakistani
03:29troops and recaptured all areas by the time war ended in the last week of July 1999.
03:45The riders passed through these landscapes filled with memories, emotions and reflections,
03:51giving them an opportunity to honour the past and find peace in the present as they reached
03:57Batalik.
04:13After a 10-minute halt, they moved towards the Brigade Headquarters, passing through
04:17villages inhabited by Aryan tribes of India, who are said to be the direct descendants
04:23of the long-lost army of Alexander the Great.
04:37Traversing these winding roads, the riders reached the Brigade Headquarters.
04:45As had become customary, a PVC cap was handed over to yet another coursemate serving on
04:50the front lines.
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