On 26 December 2004, Air Force Station Carnicobar was devastated by a severe earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale, lasting for ten to fifteen minutes, followed by Tsunami waves. As the disaster struck, Group Captain Bandopadhay, unmindful of his personal safety, rushed to all accessible areas of Air Force Station exhorting and guiding people to move to safer areas. While moving around the Station , he met the CO of Helicopter unit and requested him to immediately launch a helicopter sortie. This led to prompt rescue operation and ultimately saved hundreds of lives. In the process, he also entered a submerged area to rescue a stranded child. Even as huge Tsunami waves were approaching the area, he took several women and children in his vehicle and dropped them to a safer place. In process, he was hit by the wave and washed away. He somehow managed to hold on to a tree for a couple of hours to save his life. As water receded, he continued his mission of search and rescue and providing succor to devastated people.

Throughout he displayed exemplary courage and fortitude.

On 26 December 2004, Air Force Station was devastated by a severe earthquake which was followed by Tsunamis. Squadron Leader Panickar could not escape the fury and was washed away by the tidal waves. He held on for his life on a tree trunk, which was adrift for nearly an hour before reaching the safety of firm ground.

Immediately after surviving the onslaught of Tsunami waves, he organized rescue teams and started the arduous task of looking for survivors and recovering and identifying the bodies of the deceased. He personally went to several submerged areas to look for survivors. Looking for survivors in an area strewn with debris, unstable buildings, reptiles and a coastline redefined by the tsunami was a task, which required any individual to draw immensely from this internal resource of courage. Squadron Leader Sudhakar was among the very few who dared to undertake this task with total disregard for his personal safety. He subsequently organized the panic stricken surviving personnel, families and civilians into manageable groups so that a “headcount” could be carried out and medical aid/food could be distributed to those who needed it urgently. For the next few days, Squadron Leader Sudhakar took on the extremely difficult task of identification, documentation and cremation of the bodies. Handling bodies in advanced stages of decomposition is a task, which does not draw many volunteers. Squadron Leader Sudhakar was able to motivate a team of officers and airmen to assist him in this unpleasant task.

Squadron Leader Pulluvallyil Raman Sudhakar Panickar displayed exemplary courage and gallantry beyond call of duty in the face of severe adversity.

On 26 December 2004, Air Force Station Carnicobar was devastated by a severe earthquake which was followed by Tsunamis. On noticing the increasing waves, Squadron Leader Tammeneni Srinivasulu, immediately started warning others and advised them to move towards the runway, as it was comparatively higher. During this process of helping others, he himself went into chest deep turbulent waters, thereby risking his own life.

After extricating himself, he started moving towards the runway when he heard some cries for help. He personally went to several submerged areas to look for survivors to help them. Looking for survivors in an area strewn with debris, unstable buildings and coastline redefined by tsunami was a task, which required any individual to draw immensely from his internal resource of courage. He re-entered the waters and rescued some of the survivors, mostly ladies and children, who were hanging on trees and moved them to the safety of high ground. After ensuring safety of the people he had rescued, he began to look for others who might still be alive. In the process, he sustained several injuries including a deep cut on his foot. Undeterred by the injuries and the turbulent waters, Squadron Leader Srinivasulu continued his search and was able to recover three bodies on the first day, before they could be washed back to the sea.

Squadron Leader Tammeneni Srinivasulu displayed exemplary moral and physical courage in the service of mankind with total disregard to his personal safety in the face of sever adversity.

Group Captain Sanjiv Misra SC (14094) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the IAF on 11 Jul 1975. In 27 years of distinguished service with nearly 6000 h of accident/incident free flying, he has held several important command appointments that include Commanding Officer of Helicopter Unit, Helicopter Training School, AF Station Carnicobar and Team Leader of the IAF detachment, Namibia. He is a flying instructor and an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra in 1988 and Chief of Air Staff Commendation in 1996. Group Captain Sanjiv Misra became Station Commander, AF Station Carnicobar on 01 Feb 2000. On taking over, he faced the challenge of recommencing fighter operations which had stopped since 1993 due to tall trees obstructing runway approaches. Displaying perseverance, tact and reasoning he convinced the tribal leaders, who were reluctant to get the trees cut. But with his personal example and outstanding leadership qualities, Gp Capt Misra mobilised all the personnel of the Air Force Station and led them in the daunting task of jungle clearance in the approach path. He drove his officers and men with tremendous enthusiasm, and with his exemplary zeal and diligence completed the task in a short time. 9000 trees were cut without any additional manpower and fighter operations recommenced from Nov 2001.

With foresight and planning, Gp Capt Misra identified the training and operational needs and established an air to ground armament training range for Mi-8, made runway lighting operational and carried out works services worth Rs. 32 crores for runway extension, dispersal, operational readiness platform etc. Under his leadership the Station did very well during the visit of Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) and the Station Medicare Centre was adjudged the best in the mini category in the IAF. During his tenure, the Station has met all its flying and other commitments in a commendable manner and the highest standards of flight safety have been maintained throughout.

For distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Sanjiv Misra.

Group Captain Ravi Dhar (14559) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the IAF on 13 Jun 1976. During his last 29 years of distinguished service, he has held many important appointments at various levels such as Commanding Officer of an attack helicopter unit, Deputy Director Offensive Operations at Air Headquarters and Chief Operations Officer of an operational base. Besides being a flying Instructor with an A-2 category, he has a unique distinction of serving as an instructor in two most prestigious inter service institutes namely Defence Service Staff College and College of Defence Management. He was also selected as a team leader for serving with Govt. of Mauritius and commanded the Helicopter Squadron of Mauritian Police Force. During this tenure of two and half years, he earned many laurels for Indian Government by undertaking challenging flying tasks.

On 01 Jan 2005 he was chosen to command Air Force Station Car Nicobar, which underwent massive destruction due to severe earth quake and subsequent Tsunami waves on 26 Dec 2004. The task of bringing this destroyed station back on its feet was not only challenging but it required tremendous vision and thorough planning. Gp Capt Dhar, with his willingness to accept new challenges, guided the core team of officers and men in such a fashion that people worked day and night, leaving all personal comforts and brought the station back to functional unit within a record time. His qualities of perseverance, in time projection and sample monitoring of critical activities produced wonders in terms of developing facilities at the devastated station. All activities relating to administration, maintenance and operations got equal importance and the result was an all-round development. While scrutinising large number of Court of Inquires, Boards of Officers and Statement of Cases he exuded high degree of patience and all the time a high quality product was forwarded. He also managed visits of many dignitaries in a befitting manner despite all constraints in a devastated island.

Apr 2005 will be considered as a red letter day in the history of Indian Air force when Chief of Air Staff along with 30 media personnel witnessed flying of front line SU30 and Jaguar fighter aircraft from Carnic airbase, thus projecting the fastest resurrection of the air base. This needed thorough planning, dedicated effort and positive attitude by all personnel and Gp Capt Dhar left no stone unturned to motivate his team to put up such a good show.

For rendering distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Ravi Dhar.

645470 Junior Warrant Officer Krushna Chandra Routray Equipment Assistant is on the posted strength of Air Force Station Carnicobar since 12 Apr 2004.

On 26 Dec 2004, Air Force Station Carnicobar was devastated by a severe earthquake followed by Tsunami waves. The only Logistics Officer, Sqn Ldr CM Rodrigues lost his life in the tsunami waves. On realising this tragedy, JWO Routray took on the responsibility of providing logistic succour to the survivors and also the tasks expected of a logistic officer during such a situation. He displayed high standard of responsibility, empathy and maturity in handling and distribution of food and protective clothing to the survivors.

He proved his mettle as a junior leader by organising a logistics team comprising of airmen. He took charge of off-loading all relief material slated for the Station, stocking them. Off-loading the continuous flow of aircraft was a back-breaking task which had to be achieved with the same team of men who themselves were 'survivors' in the true sense. He kept his team motivated and achieved minimum delay and downtime of the aircraft. By the third night, i.e. 28 Dec

2004, he managed to get a makeshift kitchen functional and serve meals to all personnel, thereby contributing immensely to the upliftment of their morale.

For his display of a very high level of initiative, organising capability, leadership skills, empathy and maturity under extremely trying conditions which mitigated the hardships and trauma of the surviving personnel, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Junior Warrant Officer Krushna Chandra Routray.