Paratroopers jump from a C-130J Super Hercules into the skies of Ladakh
New Delhi:
The ramp of the American-made C-130J Super Hercules opens slowly as the four-engine transport plane arrives at a constant speed over the frozen mountains of Ladakh.
The dark bunker lights up with ambient light. In a few seconds, a paratrooper wearing an oxygen mask runs to the edge of the ramp, gives a short boost, then jumps. One by one more paratroopers follow. Behind them, the mountains of Ladakh pass slowly by.
It was one of the activities outlined by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Ladakh today. Singh spoke to troops at Lukung Post near Pangong Lake, 43 km from the area along the actual line of control (LAC) where Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a violent confrontation on 15 June.
Lukung is a combined post, where the Indian army and the Indo-Tibetan border police (ITBP) are stationed.
Visually, the last paratrooper to jump from the C-130J Super Hercules is seen gesturing towards the camera. His back is turned towards the open sky. After a few seconds, he frees himself from the ramp and floats on his back.
Mr. Singh is on a two-day visit to Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Defense Staff, and General MM Naravane, Chief of the Army, accompanied him.
“India is the only country in the world to have sent a message of peace to the world. We have never attacked a nation and have never claimed the land of a country. India believes in the message – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ‘(the world is a family “), said the Minister of Defense during his speech.
After examining the operational readiness of the LAC region, the de facto border between India and China, Mr. Singh traveled to Srinagar to examine the situation on the line of control.
