Air Force Station, Bhuj, is a tiny forward IAF fighter base.
On 26 Jan 01, during the devastating earthquake, the base was shattered with 80-90% of the buildings (including the Air traffic Control tower)coming down, causing over a 100 deaths amongst the personnel and five times as many seriously injured.
Though rendered homeless and with families in a state of shock and disorientation, a handful of survivors showed grit and determination against all odds and set up the base to get SOS messages out within two hours with damaged equipment and organized themselves to undertake what finally was the greatest ever air relief operation in the world. Over 1000 large aircraft landed with relief material in the first two weeks alone and over 10000 civilians (including casualties) were evacuated. It took nearly five days for additional support equipment and manpower to augment the existing shattered resources at the base, during which period the original few personnel worked round the clock, sans food, water, electricity & shelter.
The gallant effort by the IAF personnel may be unheralded and unrecognized by the world as most acts of valor by military forces stay shrouded in secrecy. Nevertheless, the thousands who owe their lives to those few men at the Base will forever be in their debt. I salute our men in blue for their selfless and gallant effort.