Vice-Admiral Sarma’s Mortal Remains To Be Brought To His Residence In Odisha Capital Today

Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of Vice-Admiral SH Sarma, PVSM, who passed away on Monday evening at a hospital here, will be brought to his residence here around 12.30 pm on Tuesday.

The funeral cortege will leave Navy House, A/9 Nilakantha Nagar — the officer’s residence — for Swargadwar in Puri at 4 pm.

A veteran of three wars, he was recently felicitated by the Centre. On December 1, he celebrated his 100th birthday at his residence here.

Admiral Sarma was the youngest cadet on HMS Dufferin, joining at the age of 13 years and eight months. He saw action in World War-II and both the 1965 and 1971 wars. His role in the 1971 war against Pakistan, as Fleet Commander in the Bay of Bengal, was pivotal in India’s victory. The Eastern Fleet, under his command, launched 93 airstrikes against the enemy instead of a planned five, pounding the enemy into submission without any loss of Indian lives.

As part of the commemoration and to coincide with Vijay Divas, Admiral Sarma was invited to New Delhi and was felicitated by the Navy. On December 13, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on behalf of the Indian Navy, and also wrote a message in the electronic visitors book there. On December 14, the veterans were felicitated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Delhi Cantonment.