New Delhi: The officers of the Navy and the Air Force who led the rescue efforts in Kerala have been honoured with gallantry awards. This includes four from the Navy and one from the Air Force.
Commander Vijay Varma, Commander T Anoop Kumar, Amit and Premendra Kumar from the Navy who were in the forefront of the rescue efforts won the Gallantry Award. It was Vijay Varma who flew the helicopter that rescued 24 people, including two pregnant women.
Wing Commander Prasanth Bhuvanendran Nair of the Air Force’s Garud Commando Force won the Gallantry Award for playing a big role in rescuing 112 people, including two children and a 102-year-old woman.
Sergeant Amit Kumar Jha, who played a key role in rescue efforts during Cyclone Ockhi, too won the award.
Malayali officers honoured
New Delhi Top Malayali officers Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Air Command of Indian Air Force Air Marshal B Suresh and Vice Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy P Ajit Kumar have won the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
It was Raghunath Nambiar, hailing from Kadachira, Kannur, who carried out the test flight for Rafale in France. B Suresh has previously served as Joint Director of Air Staff Inspection Directorate and Air Officer-in-Chief Personnel at Air Headquarters.
Ajit Kumar, from Ernakulam, is an expert in missile technology and previously served as Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala.
Honour for Kerala Police
K G Simon, Commandant of the KAP 3 Battalion of the Kerala Police, was honoured with Vishisht Seva Medal. The Thodupuzha resident was the recipient of Police medal for distinguished service in 2012. He has won about 200 awards including 170 good service entries.