‘Op Drishti’: Manoj Sinha hails Armed Forces’ services in J&K as mega eye camp concludes; over 400 surgeries performed
In a warm reception, Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha applauded the Armed Forces for the work they did at the closing ceremony of the mega eye camp, “Operation Drishti”, held at the Command Hospital in Udhampur. The two‑day event was organised by that hospital in collaboration with the ophthalmology team from Army Hospital Research & Referral, New Delhi, under the overall guidance of HQ Northern Command.
The Defence Ministry’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Suneel Bartwal, noted that “Operation Drishti” was a first‑of‑its‑kind initiative that ended with a formal ceremony attended by Lt. Governor Sinha and other dignitaries. He also highlighted that the camp was carried out in “mission mode” with strong leadership from Lt. Governor Sinha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chief of Army Staff.
During the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke virtually from Delhi and thanked the Northern Command and Armed Forces Medical Services for providing emergency care and excellent eye treatment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Upendra Dwivedi also addressed participants online, congratulating the Armed Forces Medical Services and Northern Command on what he called a “unique endeavour”.
According to the defence statement, the camp screened more than 2,000 patients and carried out over 400 surgeries, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal conditions. The surgical team—led by Brig. S.K. Mishra, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, the senior ophthalmic surgeon at Army Hospital Research & Referral—used advanced equipment and high‑quality intraocular lenses. Brig. Mishra said the gear was “among the best available globally”.
The initiative saw an Indian Air Force aircraft transport the specialised team and equipment to Udhampur, underscoring inter‑service coordination. The beneficiaries, many from remote districts such as Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar and Ramban, expressed deep gratitude. Army officials described the services as a gesture of thanks for public support during Operation Sindoor.
In the closing remarks, Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma, GOC‑in‑C Northern Command, thanked the Ministry of Defence, local administration and Army Headquarters for their support. Lt. Governor Sinha handed out spectacles to several patients and praised the surgical team from Army Hospital Research & Referral.
Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, spoke about the ongoing challenge of cataract blindness and the commitment to deliver quality care in underserved areas. Maj. Gen. S. Sharma, Commandant of Command Hospital Northern Command, delivered the closing vote of thanks, acknowledging assistance from government agencies, DGAFMS, Army Headquarters and Northern Command.
The event concluded with an interactive session where the Lt. Governor met and thanked the eye‑camp beneficiaries, reinforcing the bond between the Armed Forces and the communities they serve.
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