The Saga of Chushul ALG, 14260 ft. asl
My first posting with the Indian Army from the Rajasthan State Forces was as Commander of the Ladakh Garrison, which I took over on 2 August 1951. The very next day intelligence sources reported the presence of a brigade of Chinese Nationalist Cossacks (Chiang Kai-shek Government) at Rudok in Tibet, being chased by Communist forces. I immediately got in touch with Major General Thakur Mahadeo Singh DSO, GOC 19 Div and requested him to provide additional troops to garrison Chushul to meet the likely threat. He very kindly airlifted one company of 1 Sikhs under Major Sardara Singh to Baltal and from there, I arranged for over one thousand ponies to force march the column to Chushul via Kargil and Leh, crossing the Fotula (13400 ft) and Changla (18370 ft) over a distance over 200 miles. This column reached Chushul without any mishap by 25 August 1951 and was placed under the command of Lt Col Karve of 7 J&K Militia, with instructions to take up defensive position beyond the Spangur Lake to stop any incursions of the Cossacks into Ladakh.
By 28 August 1951, Major Sardara Singh took up defensive positions, well dug in, on the route towards Rudok. The Cossack regiment was reported to be fighting a rear guard action against the Communists, to safeguard lives of their wives and children, also their herds of sheep and yaks. The families of Cossacks came in contact with our troops on 29 August and requested entry into our territory, which was refused. Next day Major Sardara Singh reported that the Cossacks were seen digging defensive positions about two miles away. A large number of troops were on ponies. The situation looked very critical and I flew
to Div HQ to discuss with the GOC. Thereafter, myself with Brig Billimoria, Commander J&K Militia, flew to Leh on 30 August to give instructions to Lt Col Karve for meeting the situation, ordering him to immediately proceed to Chushul.
The hourly sitreps reported skirmishes between the Cossacks and Communists. Commander of the Cossacks again pleaded with Major Sardara Singh to allow their families safety on humanitarian grounds but he refused. By now fierce fighting had started and machine guns and mortars were being used by both sides.
I flew hack to Srinagar on 3 September 1951 to report the latest situation to the GOC and surprisingly found him at the airfield itself. I reported the evolving situation. He told me that, fortunately, the Prime Minister of India was just arriving “and we will discuss the whole affair with him”.
After his arrival the GOC introduced me to Prime Minster Jawaharlal Nehru and I explained to him the Cossack situation. The PM then invited us to Chashme Shahi gardens for discussions where we immediately proceeded. After detailed discussions, the Prime Minister ordered that we give political asylum to the Cossacks and I immediately passed on the message to Major Sardara Singh to admit the Cossacks in our territory. This took place during the hours of darkness, so allowing the Cossacks to enter against violent protestation of the Communists. The same story was to be repeated twice to test our nerves but we managed to contain the situation.
This convinced me that one day we will have to reckon with the Communists of China.
On return, Lt Col Karve reported that there were long stretches of plain grounds in the Chushul valley, where air landing by transport aircraft was possible. To maintain a garrison of just one company from my HQ at Kargil, 200 miles away, was a herculean task and to solve the logistic problems, the answer obviously was for an airfield!
I consulted Air Commodore Arjan Singh about the length a Dakota would need for landing at the height of 14,000 ft. He was of the definite opinion that this should not be less than 3000 yds. I then asked the company commander at Chushul to carry out a recce of suitable areas where such an airstrip could be constructed, with minimal effort. The Company Commander selected such a site and started working on it.
In May 1952, I decided to visit Chushul but was caught in a blizzard storm on Changla pass and was nearly buried in snow on 19 May and had to return to Sakti after walking for nearly 22 hours. Air Commodore Arjan Singh then himself visited Kargil on 25 May and enquired about progress of the ALG at Chushul. Because of bad weather, I could not cross the Changla but went the next month to find out the exact situation. I crossed the Changla on 17 June and reached Chushul some days later. I inspected the airstrip which was about 1300 yds long, went where beyond Spangur Lake, we had earlier encountered the Cossacks. After that, I roamed around in the Chushul valley and chanced upon excellent flat land, measuring 4000 yds long and 100 yds wide, fit for aircraft landing without removing a stone! My joy knew no bounds. Capt PS Kler, my orderly Sangrup and myself then personally marked the four corners of the field erecting stone cairns about 4 ft high.
On return to Leh, I flashed the news to HQ 19 Div and to Air Commodore Arjan Singh, who immediately dispatched Sqn Ldr Dhawan to inspect the site. He reached Leh on 27 July, trekked to Chushul and inspected the grounds on 3 August 1952, fixed the air-sock as well and declared the airfield as “fit for landing”!
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of India visited Srinagar again on 27 August and had dinner with Major General Mahadeo Singh. I spoke with the GOC to request the Prime Minister to perform the opening ceremony at Chushul ALG but he asked me to do so myself. I humbly requested the Indian Prime Minister that on behalf of the Indian Army, “I want to present the highest airfield in the world to you”. Mr Nehru showed great interest and immediately agreed to do so! On hearing this, there was great excitement and all VIPs present wanted to accompany the Prime Minister. It was then decided that I should go in the first aircraft on 29 August 1952, followed by two other Dakotas with the VIPs on board.
In almost perfect weather, we took off at 0800 hours from Srinagar airfield in Dakotas and after a flight of two hours, flying at the height of 27000 ft, landed safely at Chushul, I was the first person to land at on the highest airfield in the world! Pandit Nehru as in the second aircraft which landed, was received by me, to be followed by the third aircraft which also landed safely.
It was wonderful to see three IAF Dakotas and so many distinguished persons roaming in this most remote valley of Chushul, where there was nothing to be seen apart from some wild horses. The VIPs were Pandit Nehru, Mrs Indira Gandhi, Yuvaraj Karan Singh, Sheikh Abdullah, Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia, Major General Digambar Singh Brar, Major General Mahadeo Singh, Air Vice Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, Mr Gopi Handoo, and Air Commodore Arjan Singh.
With this historical landing on 29 August 1952, the name Chushul was to become known all over, as the (then) highest airfield in the world.