Kargil, July 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually carried out the first blast of the Shinkun La Tunnel project in Ladakh's Kargil on Friday.

The Shinkun La Tunnel Project consists of a 4.1-kilometre-long twin-tube tunnel that will be constructed at an altitude of around 15,800 feet on the Nimu-Padum-Darcha Road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh, according to a PMO release.

Once completed, it will be the highest tunnel in the world.

Shinkun La tunnel will not only ensure swift and efficient movement of our armed forces and equipment but also foster economic and social development in Ladakh.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in the 1999 Kargil War. The Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memoria in Drass, Ladakh, on the occasion of the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and all ranks of the armed forces also joined in remembering the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers during the Kargil war.

Earlier on Thursday, commemorating the 25 Years of Kargil Vijay, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi along with his wife felicitated Kargil War Heroes, Veterans, VeerNaris and family members of Bravehearts, at the Kargil WarMemorial. The commemoration included a brief on the Kargil War, reminiscences by Kargil War Heroes, Patriotic Songs, a Dare Devils Motorcycle Riding Show, a Martial Art Display, the Kargil Vijay Anthem and a National Integration dance by school children.

Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26, commemorates the success of Operation Vijay in 1999.

During this operation, the Indian forces successfully reclaimed strategic positions in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists.

(ANI)

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