Operation Meghna Heli Bridge 1971 | Indian Air Force | Indian Army | Indian Defence
Meghna
Heli Bridge was an aerial operation of Indian and Bangladeshi allied forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It took place on 9 December, when the Indian Air Force (IAF)
airlifted the Mukti Bahini and the IV
Corps of the Indian Army from Brahmanbaria to Raipura in Narsingdi over the
River Meghna, bypassing the
destroyed Meghna Bridge and Pakistani defences in Ashuganj.
When the war broke
out, IV corps went into action in the Agartala sector.
At the start of the Dhaka Campaign, Dhaka was set as an objective for II
Corps and IV Corps had been tasked to capture the fortress
of Comilla.
By 8 December, troops of the 57 Mountain Division and the IV
Corps had already achieved their initial objectives of occupying the
territory leading up to the Meghna. The only way across the river was over the Ashuganj
Bridge, which very soon became a fortress where a Pakistani division had
consolidated itself. The strategic importance of breaking down resistance at
Ashuganj soon became apparent to Lt Gen Sagat Singh, leading the IV Corps, who
realised that his troops could, with a push, threaten Dhaka. Once a significant
force had been built up, there was no recognisable enemy force between the
helidropped force and Dhaka. Ashuganj Bridge was the only bridge that spanned
the huge Meghna River which at its narrowest point was more than 4,000 yards
wide. With his troops at Ashuganj, Singh however, realised his formation would
be joining in the race to Dhaka. As would later turn out, II Corps was held at
Kushtia by Pakistani defences and did not make it to Dhaka.
However, Aerial photos also showed that the bridge had been destroyed and it
would require the Army Engineers to construct a new bridge over the sprawling
Meghna for Indian troops to advance. Anticipating high casualties in the
attempt to take the bridge by force, Singh, along with Maj Gen B F Gonsalves, leading the
57 Mtn Div, made the decision to airlift the troops.
Brilliant in its conception, the idea was
fraught with risks and dangers. The move had to go un-opposed, or at the worse,
face minimal opposition from Pakistani troops north of Raipura. The Indian
troops that were helidropped did not have artillery or armoured support. On the
9th, troops began to be airlifted to Raipura, south of the Ashuganj Bridge.
Once this position was consolidated, the troops were to be airlifted to
Narsingdi. From Narsingdi the road to Dhaka would lie bare for IV Corps to
take. To provide support for the heliborne troops, PT-76 Tanks were told to
ford the Meghna River.
The IAF's
operation was led by Group Captain Chandan Singh and utillised Mi-4 helicopters
that had already been involved in the Sylhet
air-lift on the night of 7 December. Through the night of 9
December, the IAF air-lifted the entire 311 Brigade. The first troops,
numbering around six hundred were landed through the night of the 9th,
immediately making contact with Pakistani troops north of Raipura. They however
held their positions, with the IAF flying in reinforcements. Over the next 36
hours, over 110 sorties were flown. The Mi-4, which normally carried 14 troops,
carried as many as 23 on board. The troops were initially airlifted to Raipura,
south of the Ashuganj Bridge. At the same time as this operation was on, 73rd
Brigade moved across Meghna on boats and riverine crafts.
After consolidating their positions at
Raipura, the troops were helilifted to Narsingdi. After securing Narshingdi,
Indian forces captured Daudkandi and Baidder Bazar on 14 and 15 December
respectively, both with helicopter assault. From Narshingdi, the metalled road
to Dhaka lay undefended for IV Corps to take.
The Pakistani Army had left the roads to Dhaka undefended moving their defences at the bridge-heads and defensive strong-points, expecting to hold the Indian Army at these positions long enough till the UN and international pressure halted the Indian advance. The Meghna Helibridge along with the Tangail Airdrop on 11 December ensured that these positions were by-passed, capturing the approaches to Dhaka. Moreover, the Pakistani garrison at Ashuganj was effectively put under siege, facing the Indian Army at Brahmanbaria and at Raipura. The Tangail Airdrop a day later denied the Pakistani 93 Brigade the sanctuary of Dhaka. Dhaka now could only be defended by troops within the city.
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