The Swarnim Vijay Mashaal, or the victory flame, lit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last December symbolising India's decisive and historic triumph over the Pakistan army in December 1971 which led to the creation of Bangladesh, today reached the iconic, highest railway bridge in the world over river Chenab in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A wreath laying ceremony was held in the memory of brave martyrs in the presence of veterans and heroes of the 1971 Indo-Pak war from the region were felicitated.

Chenab bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL) and arguably the biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history.

Last month, with the completion of the steel arch of the bridge, a major step towards the completion of the 111 km long winding stretch from Katra to Banihal was taken. After completion of the arch work, removal of the stay cables, filling of the concrete in the arch rib, erection of the steel trestle, launching of the viaduct and track laying work is being taken up.

The Swarnim Vijay Mashaal, meanwhile, continues its travel across the length and breadth of the country, visiting homes of several war veterans and Veer Naris.

Lit from the Eternal Flame at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on December 16 by PM Modi, it is already rekindling proud memories in hundreds of families who have now become an integral part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, also called ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’. The war also resulted in the largest military surrender after World War–II.

The four victory mashaals lit from the Eternal Flame of NWM have been carried to various parts of the country including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees of 1971 War over the past three months.

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