Flt Lt Nachiketa, now Group Captain Kambampati Nachiketa (Vayu Sena Medal), has the distinction of being the first prisoner of war of the Kargil war and today is a Kargil survivor. Then a fighter pilot, he now flies transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force. After what had to be a harrowing 8 days in enemy captivity, the young fighter pilot was returned to Indian authorities at the Wagah Border when he said that he was ready for this next sortie!
Flt. Lt. Nachiketa during the Kargil War
Image source
9 Squadron IAF was charged with carrying out a strike in the Batalik Sector on 28th May 1999. The flight lieutenant started out in his MiG 27 armed with 80mm rockets and subsequently with a 30mm cannon and carried out strikes against what was identified as enemy concentrations. The terrain was harsh and with rocky ridges and the weather misty and shadowy, making it difficult for the pilot to place exactly where the aircraft was. The plane had crossed over the line of control into enemy territory and the pilot was in the process of returning into Indian territory when his engine flamed out.
All attempts at reigniting the engine failed because flying at such high altitudes there wasn’t any scope to do this. Though he ejected before the plane crashed and successfully evaded capture for a time, he was then captured by enemy forces. Armed with just one pistol versus five or six enemy soldiers armed with AK 56 guns he was outnumbered and taken into captivity where he remained for 8 days. After being taken to Skardu by chopper, he was then taken to Rawalpindi for four days before being released to Indian authorities at the border near Amritsar on 4 June 1999.
“I am not a hero, but a soldier”
Image source
Flt Lt Nachiketa continues to be with the Indian Air Force even today. When he met media persons at Wagah briefly after his ordeal, he said ”I am fine and happy to be home” and later that “I am not a hero, but a soldier. Every soldier in Kargil would have done just what I did”. The officer then declared that he was ready for his next sortie. He is a transport aircraft pilot today because of injuries sustained when he ejected from this aircraft. However, he still feels that all flying is challenging and now with the benefit of a broader perspective feels that there is more to life than just fighter aircraft.
Author – Reena Daruwalla
This article is a part of a series on the brave hearts of the Kargil War – these are heroes India has either forgotten about or has never heard of. This series is our tribute to our country’s men and women in uniform ahead of Kargil Divas (26 July)
