Gallantry awards announced; four to receive Kirti Chakra, 15 will get Vir Chakra, Operation Sindoor heroes will be honoured

NEW DELHI: The Centre has announced the gallantry awards to mark the nation’s 79th Independence Day. A total of 127 personnel from the armed forces will be honoured. The awards include recognitions for those who played a major role in Operation Sindoor. Four personnel will receive the Kirti Chakra, 15 will be honoured with the Vir Chakra, and another 15 will get the Shaurya Chakra. In addition, 58 will receive the Sena Medal for gallantry, 26 will get the Vayu Sena Medal, and nine will be awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal.

Malayali Navy officer Commander Vivek Kuriakose will receive the Navy Medal for gallantry. Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod, also from Kerala, will get the Yudh Seva Medal. Two BSF personnel will be awarded the Vir Chakra.

Three Air Force officers- Air Vice Marshal Joseph Soares, Air Vice Marshal Prajwal Singh, and Air Commodore Ashok Raj Thakur- will be honoured with the Yudh Seva Medal for their key role in Operation Sindoor. Thirteen other Air Force pilots from the operation will also get the Yudh Seva Medal, while nine pilots will receive the Vir Chakra. In the Army, two officers will be honoured with the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal, and four will receive the Kirti Chakra.