Srinagar, September 30,2026- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended the closing ceremony of the 11th Mega Eye Surgical Camp under Operation Drishti, the Indian Army’s eye-care initiative in Jammu and Kashmir. LG Sinha saluted the courage of the Indian Army and the doctors of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), who performed 364 vision-restoring surgeries across Srinagar and Tangdhar in Kupwara.
The ceremony was held at Chinar Auditorium, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar.
364 Surgeries in Two Locations
LG Manoj Sinha said 144 surgeries were performed at the Srinagar camp, while 220 patients underwent procedures at Tangdhar. He described the figure as more than a statistic, saying it stands for lives changed and for restored vision, dignity and trust. The Srinagar camp was held from September 27 to 29.
A First on the Border
The Lieutenant Governor recalled that the 10th camp, held at Tangdhar on September 24 and 25, was the first-ever mega eye surgical camp on the border. It was conducted at an underground operation theatre in a shelling-prone area along the Line of Control, under the leadership of Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Head of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment.
Most procedures at Tangdhar were cataract surgeries, alongside selected retinal procedures and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries.
LG Sinha noted that modern surgical equipment was airlifted to Tangdhar, enabling advanced eye care for people from Khawarpora, Tangdhar, Bagbella and adjoining villages, in a region where such facilities were once hard to imagine. He also acknowledged the Air Force pilots, soldiers and support staff who transported equipment, prepared the theatres and ensured complex surgeries in adverse conditions.
National Reach of Operation Drishti
Speaking about the initiative’s wider impact, the Lieutenant Governor said Operation Drishti has screened more than 1.5 lakh people nationwide and performed over 3,500 surgeries across 10 cities. He said the programme has strengthened trust between the Army and the communities it serves, showing that the Indian Army is not only a force of defence but also a source of compassion and healing.
Proud of the Army’s Commitment
Expressing pride, LG Manoj Sinha said Operation Drishti is about restoring vision, dignity and trust. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the initiative, which he said will deeply impact lives across Jammu and Kashmir.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated the doctors and medical staff of the defence forces for their services during the camp.
Not the End of the Journey
LG Sinha said the 11th camp is a continuation of the journey rather than its end. He voiced confidence that Operation Drishti will reach more villages and towns across the country, ensuring that quality healthcare is not confined to big cities. The Tangdhar camp, he said, serves as an inspiring example for remote areas across India, and shows that determination, better planning and compassion can carry modern medicine to every corner of the country.
Srinagar SSP GV Sundeep Chakravarthy and Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo were also present, along with senior officials of the defence forces.
Why It Matters for Border Communities
For residents of remote and border areas, specialised eye surgery has long meant travelling far from home. Bringing surgeons, equipment and operating facilities directly to places like Tangdhar reduces that burden considerably. Cataract and other eye conditions, if left untreated, can affect independence, livelihoods and everyday safety, so each successful surgery carries wide benefits for patients and their families.
The success of the Srinagar and Tangdhar camps also shows what close coordination between the Army, the Air Force and the medical services can achieve, even in difficult terrain.
