Pune-based Army’s Bombay Sappers completes 200 years

Pune, August 21, 2019 : Indian Army’s Bombay Engineer Group (BEG), Khadki, conducted a Motorcycle Expedition from Drass to Pune over a distance of 3687 Kilometres through eight states over 26 days to commemorate their Bicentenary celebration.  The expedition was flagged-off from Drass on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July 2019 and reached Pune on 21 August 2019, where it was flagged-in by Lieutenant General SK Saini, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command in presence of Lieutenant General Michael Mathews, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal (Bar), Colonel Commandant, The Bombay Sappers, Kirkee and a large number of retired and serving officers and soldiers at Milkha Singh Sports Complex, Pune.

Bombay Engineer Group and Centre would be celebrating its 200 years in service of the Indian Army in January 2020. During the last 200 years the Bombay Sappers have earned 25 Theatre Honours, 34 Battle Honours, one Victoria Cross, one Param Vir Chakra, one Ashok Chakra and numerous gallantry and distinguished awards, displaying the grit, determination and courage of the Bombay Sappers.

The eight member Motorcycle Expedition team led by Captain by Mohnil Sunil Yadav traced a difficult and arduous route from Drass through Leh, Manali, Jammu, Rajouri, Jalandhar, New Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and reached Pune.  The expedition rode through places where famous battles were fought post independence in which the troops of Bombay Sappers made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.

The expedition commenced its journey from Drass where Engineer Regiments had earned Theatre Honours Kargil and Battle Honour Drass during Operation Vijay in the year 1999.  The expedition also visited Rajouri to play tributes to its Param Vir Chakra Late Major RR Rane who displayed courage beyond the call of duty while fighting in Rajouri Sector during Jammu and Kashmir Operations of 1947-48.  The Motorcycle Expedition team on reaching New Delhi paid homage to all the martyrs at India Gate and National War Memorial.  The expedition also utilised the opportunity to interact with Veer Naris and Veterans of Bombay Sappers enroute to Pune.