In the remote Gundna area of Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, villagers faced a daunting scene of deep snow, steep slopes, and an eerie silence that often accompanies death. On the eve of Republic Day, these villagers undertook an extraordinary mission, trekking nearly fifteen kilometers to save over twenty soldiers stranded at an altitude of approximately eleven thousand feet. This was not a formal operation nor a quest for recognition; it was a direct battle of humanity and responsibility that these mountain dwellers triumphed in.

Due to heavy snowfall, Morcha Top, located near the border of Doda and Kishtwar districts, had transformed into a white grave. With snow measuring five to six feet thick, all routes were blocked. The soldiers were engaged in an anti-terrorism search operation, Operation Trashi One, in the area for nearly two weeks. Suddenly, the weather turned, and intense snowfall trapped the soldiers. Communication was limited, movement was impossible, and danger lurked with every breath.

The urgency of the soldiers' deployment stemmed from a serious incident on January 18, when a special forces soldier, Havildar Gajendra Singh, was martyred during an encounter with terrorists in the Singhpora area of Chhatru, leaving seven others injured. Following this, security forces intensified their efforts to prevent terrorist infiltration in challenging terrains like Morcha Top. However, nature posed its own formidable challenge here.

On the evening of January 24, a message was sent from the army post indicating that the soldiers were trapped. Helicopters could not fly, and machinery could not advance. Consequently, assistance was sought from the villagers of Gundna. The very next morning, at 8:30 AM, the villagers armed themselves with shovels and set out. The army provided them with boots, gloves, and food packets, but their determination and spirit were their own.

For nearly five hours, these villagers navigated steep slopes and cut through frozen snow. Each step was slippery, and every breath fought against the cold air. By around 1:30 PM, they reached Morcha Top, where the soldiers stood weary yet resolute. The villagers cleared a path, held hands, and safely brought all the soldiers down by evening. Lieutenant Colonel Sunil Bartwal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that civilians collaborated with the army to create a path under extremely challenging conditions.

Reports indicate that on the same day, the Border Roads Organization conducted another rescue operation at Chhatargala Top. They successfully evacuated forty soldiers and about twenty civilians stranded at an altitude of eleven thousand five hundred feet on the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road. This operation continued until early morning on January 26. Nevertheless, the villagers of Gundna have made the nation proud with their remarkable act of bravery.