Liberation of Zojila Drass and Kargil in 1947-48-Operation Duck

Zojila Pass is located at an elevation of 3529 meters and about 100 kilometers from of Srinagar
on National highway 1D connecting Srinagar with Leh. It is normally closed during winter,. During
1947-48 tribal raiders and Pakistan regulars had occupied Zojila, Dras and Kargil. This road was used
as supply line to Leh as such it was essential to clear it and save Leh from enemy occupation. Between
Kargil and Leh only two J&K State Forces platoons were guarding the bridge at Khaltse. Indian Army
launched campaign to liberate these areas named it “Operation Duck”
Operation DUCK

Map-Author Mike Young

Area marked in yellow was in Indian control

77 Parachute brigade commanded by Brig KL Atal, was given the task of capturing Zojila in
September 1948. This brigade comprised 3 JAT, 1/5 Gorkhas, 5 Maratha Light Infantry, a platoon of
engineers, a platoon of machine gunners and a few ancillary units and1 Patiala. The operation DUCK
commenced on 3rd September 1948 but failed due to heavy snow fall and enemy entrenched at
commanding heights. Second attempt was made on night of 13rd September by Jats and Marathas on
enemy entrenched on “Mukand” and “Chabutra”,this attempt also failed with heavy casualties.
Havildar Fateh Singh of Jat showed exemplary courage in bringing back many injured despite personal
injuries. He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra.
Considering ground realities, it was decided in a meeting held on 23rd September, chaired by
Field Marshal (then Gen) K.M. Criappa, to use tanks during attack on Zojila. A squadron of Stuart M5
Light Infantry tanks was ordered to be moved from Akhnoor near Jammu. It took about a fortnight to
transport tanks to Baltal. En route bridges had to strengthened and tanks secretly transported with
turrets removed and through Srinagar for secrecy tanks were moved at night after imposing curfew. 20th
October was fixed D day for operation, but had to be postponed due to bad weather. The operation was
launched finally at 10.30 AM on 1st November .7 Cavalry tanks busted enemy bunkers on “Makund”
and “Chaubutra”which had caused great loss during September attempt.. The enemy was taken by
complete surprise. Their MMG firing had no affect on armored tanks and the enemy fled from their
position. The operation was complete success and by nightfall Zojila was cleared of enemy. Gen.K.S.
Thimayya was himself in the first tank.
M5A1 at Worthington Museum Crossing Zojila in Fair Weather
After clearing Zojila,Brig. Atal made detailed plans for capturing Drass and Kargil. The tanks
moved towards Drass which was captured on 13th November and further to Kargil which was liberated
on 23rd November. About 6 KM from Kargil, Brig.Atal personally led two companies and surprised
enemy from rear. For his successful leadership, he was awarded Maha Vir Chakra.
Airlink with Leh was established on 24th May and from 15th August onwards weather improved.
On 23 August, Lt. Col.H.S. Parab (CO 2/8 Gorkhas) and his unit began arriving in Leh. By the end of
August more troops began arriving overland along the Manali-Leh route. The troops at Leh were
finally in a position to mount a counter attack. Khalatse was retaken on 23 November 1948. The
following day Parab’s troops reached Kargil. By the end of November the entire south bank of the
Indus had been cleared of the invaders and the Srinagar-Leh land route was firmly in Indian hands, and
Leh secured.
Soon thereafter cease fire was declared on 1st January1949. The first war in Kashmir was over
after 15 months of fighting.
Role of Madras Sappers (Corps of Engineers):
The tank squadron of was located at Akhnoor and road from Jammu to Srinagar was was dirt
track with weak wooden bridges. The tanks had to be winched across many bridges and Engineers
assisted in transporting the tank squadron.
By 25th August a platoon of 13 field company had managed to convert pony track from Baltal
to Zojila into jeep able road. The road had to be widened to take Stuart tanks. In October 433 field
company and a platoon were rushed to assist the work. It was decided to follow the existing alignment.
Under the charge of OC Major Thangaraju,the last of the culverts was completed on the night 16th
October. Engineers worked day and night often under firing from occupying enemy forces. This 5 mile
stretch is named after Thangaraju.
After clearing enemy from Zojila,Stuarts tanks proceeded towards Drass and Kargil. Here also
Engineers prepared a tank-able road with a 70 feet Bailey bridge unto Matayan by 13thNovember.Drass
was captured on afternoon of 15th November. There after 77 Brigade went for Kargil.
Role of IAF
Leh detachment was ordered to prepare an airstrip at Leh which was was got readied by May
1948.Major General Thimayya, considered reinforcing the Leh by air. AOC Meher Singh and Gen
Thimayya landed in Leh on 24 May 1948, proved that the Dakota was capable of landing at Leh and
set a record by landing at the world’s highest airstrip. Mehar Singh was awarded first Maha Vir
Chakra to the Indian Air Force. After this some 700 Dakota sorties were flown in for transporting men
and materials and evacuating injured.

Ref
1Leadership in the Indian army: biographies of twelve soldiers By V. K. Singh
2History of the Corps of Engineers Indian Army
Ramesh Lalwani
3rd March 2010