Wing Commander Purshotam Lal Dhawan was in command of one of transport squadrons in the J & K area – his third operational assignment in this area. After active hostilities commenced in Ladakh, information was received that the Chandni Post was under fire and no clear picture was available of our posts in the Daulat Beg Oldi area. Wing Commander Dhawan, knowing that he would encounter enemy fire, successfully carried out a complete reconnaissance over the area before landing at Daulat Beg Oldi and obtained information about the latest situation in the forward posts in that area. When our troops were retreating from Daulat Beg Oldi, Wing Commander Dhawan located them and dropped essential winter clothing and food without which they could not have survived.
Wing Commander Purshotam Lal Dhawan displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.