Indian Army Saturday said that a first-of-its-kind advanced surgical eye camp, Op Drishti, was organised by Command Hospital, Northern Command, Udhampur, from November 18–22, 2025, in collaboration with a specialised surgical team from Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi.
In a statement issued to news agency KINS Army said that the initiative surpassed expectations as more than 2,000 people were screened and over 400 surgeries were conducted, including complex procedures for cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders.
“Beneficiaries included serving personnel, dependents, Veer Naris, and local civilians from remote areas of Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Ramban and other districts.The surgical team comprised highly skilled ophthalmologists led by Brigadier S.K. Mishra, a renowned ophthalmic surgeon and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (R&R), who holds the distinction of operating on two Presidents of India”.
“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually addressed the closing ceremony, commending the Northern Command and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for extending timely and specialised healthcare to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi also addressed the gathering virtually, congratulating AFMS and Northern Command on this landmark initiative. Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha attended the closing ceremony, while General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, was present on the occasion”.
“Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, visited the camp on November 20 and interacted with patients.
Among the many beneficiaries was 72-year-old Surinder Singh from Poonch, who had been battling blindness for nearly three years. His story is marked by personal loss, having witnessed the tragic deaths of neighbours during Pakistan’s shelling amid Operation Sindoor. Following his successful surgery, he became an active motivator, helping others from conflict-affected communities avail medical care”.
“Similarly, Abdullah Shafeeq, a 56-year-old retired soldier from Mendhar, played a crucial role in coordinating access to these specialised ophthalmic services for residents impacted by recent conflict.
Perhaps the most inspiring example of the camp’s impact was 96-year-old Rajkumari Devi, who regained clear vision — a life-changing transformation at her age”.
“The idea for this large-scale medical outreach originated from a shared vision of service, conceptualised by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after a request by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Acting on this, the Chief of Army Staff instructed the Director General of AFMS and DGMS (Army) to plan and execute the camp with precision. He further directed the establishment of a specialised eye treatment facility within the operational area of Udhampur to ensure the highest standards of care”.(KINS)
