Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, April 10 (UNI) The mountains of Ladakh, which once echoed with his courage, fell silent on Friday as Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd.), the legendary ‘Lion of Ladakh’, passed away following a heart attack, in Leh.
A warrior whose bravery shaped the early victories of the Kargil War, he leaves behind a void as deep as the valleys he so fiercely defended.
Col. Wangchuk, a Maha Vir Chakra awardee and one of the most celebrated heroes of the 1999 Kargil War, was 61. A son of the mountains and a warrior forged in the harshest terrains, he embodied a rare blend of fearlessness and quiet dignity, qualities that earned him a legendary stature both within and outside the armed forces.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief at the passing of Maha Vir Chakra awardee. In a post on X, Singh paid glowing tribute to Colonel Wangchuk describing him as a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to duty.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Colonel Sonam Wangchuk. He was a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army, renowned for his gallantry, resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to duty," he said.
The defence minister called Colonel Wangchuk a "proud son of Ladakh" and said, "He exemplified the spirit of the region- resilient, steadfast and deeply rooted in service to the Nation, while standing as a symbol of India’s unity in diversity."
"His courageous actions of leading by personal example during Operation Vijay inspired his men under the most demanding conditions in high-altitude. His life remains a testament to courage, sacrifice and national integration and his legacy will continue to inspire coming generations,” the defence minister said.
In its post on X, ADGPI wrote, “General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army pay heartfelt homage to Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, MVC - a brave soldier, a committed leader and a son of Ladakh whose life embodied courage, service and unity. His legacy will continue to inspire generations. Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
Born on May 11, 1964, in Sankar village of Leh district, Wangchuk joined the Indian Army in 1987, serving first with the 4 Assam Regiment before moving to The Ladakh Scouts, the famed ‘Snow Warriors’ of the Himalayas. Over a military career spanning more than three decades, he emerged as one of the most formidable high-altitude commanders produced by India.
It was during the Kargil conflict that Col. Sonam Wangchuk’s name became etched into India’s military history. Then a Major with the Indus Wing of the Ladakh Scouts, he led one of the earliest and most decisive operations of Operation Vijay in the Batalik sector on 30 May 1999.
Operating at nearly 18,000 feet (over 5,500 metres) in a brutally glaciated zone, he and his column came under sudden enemy ambush while moving to occupy a ridge along the Line of Control, resulting in the loss of one NCO.
Displaying exceptional leadership, Major Wangchuk held his men together and launched a daring counter-ambush, attacking the enemy from the flank. In the close-quarter battle that followed, he personally led the raid, killing two enemy soldiers and recovering a Heavy Machine Gun, a Universal Machine Gun, ammunition and other stores.
Over the next three days, commanding a team of just 40 soldiers, he spearheaded the eviction of 136 Pakistani intruders from the strategic Chorbat La sector, braving deep snow, thin air and relentless enemy fire.
Executed with precision, audacity and unparalleled endurance, the operation became one of the defining early successes of the Kargil War and cemented Major Wangchuk’s legacy as one of India’s finest high-altitude commanders.
His gallantry not only earned him the nation’s second-highest wartime honour, the Maha Vir Chakra, but also set a benchmark for battlefield leadership.
Col. Wangchuk retired from service in 2018 after more than 30 years in uniform, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape high-altitude warfare doctrines. Col. Wangchuk is survived by his wife, Padma Angmo.
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