Light after shells: army’s eye camp brings vision, hope to conflict-hit civilians

Udhampur, Nov 21: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and continuing tensions along the border, the Indian Army has launched a powerful humanitarian initiative, an advanced surgical eye camp that has restored vision and dignity to civilians living under the shadow of conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Ministry of Defence’s press release, the Advanced Surgical Eye Camp at Command Hospital, Northern Command, Udhampur, has screened 1,500 individuals, including serving soldiers, their dependents, Veer Naris (war widows), and civilians from remote border areas. “This monumental effort represents the compassionate and human face of the Indian Army,” the press release stated. The screening was led by ophthalmologists positioned across the operational areas of J&K . Under the leadership of Maj Gen Sanjay Sharma, patients travelled from far-flung and tension-hit regions including Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Jammu and Udhampur, overcoming terrain and psychological barriers to access treatment. The release noted that the camp deployed state-of-the-art ophthalmological equipment, enabling intricate cataract, retina and vitreous surgeries — matching global best practices. Among the many success stories stands Surinder Singh, a 72-year-old from Poonch, who endured years of failing eyesight and had lived through the trauma of Operation Sindoor, where neighbours and breadwinners were killed.

His life changed after the surgery. “Once his vision returned, he became a catalyst for change — personally mobilising others who were paralysed by grief and hardship,” the release said. Similarly, Abdullah Shafeeq, a retired 56-year-old soldier from Mendhar, played a pivotal role in facilitating access for local residents impacted by the conflict. In a moment of triumph for medical outreach, 96-year-old Rajkumari Devi regained her sight — a story the ministry described as “the gift of seeing the world again in full clarity.”

The initiative was rooted in a high-level directive. Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, responding to a request from Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, instructed Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi to initiate specialised medical outreach in conflict-hit zones.

The responsibility for execution was entrusted to Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Northern Command Army Commander, symbolising the dual focus of the mission — medical excellence and compassion. The Army emphasised that the medical outreach aligns with its long-standing efforts under Operation Sadbhavna, aimed at building trust and welfare among civilians living in sensitive border areas.

To ensure clinical precision, DGAFMS Surg Vice Admiral Aarti Sarin and DGMS Army Lt Gen C G Muralidharan supervised meticulous planning and execution. The camp was led by Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, one of India’s most decorated Army doctors and a globally recognised ophthalmologist. He has previously operated on two serving Presidents of India — highlighting the calibre of expertise deployed. His team performed over 400 complex surgeries during the camp, including cataract, glaucoma and retinal procedures. In total, the outreach spanned thousands of kilometres — from Dehradun to Jaipur, Bagdogra to remote villages of Jammu — culminating in over 2,000 vision-restoring surgeries. Temporary rooms were turned into sterile theatres, medical teams worked through fatigue, and equipment was transported across challenging terrain to reach patients neglected for years. As the guns fall silent after Operation Sindoor, the Army’s efforts have given many a new sight — and a new hope