Srinagar, Sep 30 :In a landmark ophthalmic outreach initiative, the Indian Army successfully conducted “OP DRISHTI – KASHMIR 2026”, a mega cataract surgery camp bringing advanced eye care to civilians and veterans in the remote and challenging terrain of the Kashmir Valley.
Conducted by 92 Base Hospital under the aegis of Chinar Corps, in collaboration with the specialist ophthalmology team of Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, the initiative combined the clinical expertise of two senior Army ophthalmologists Brig SK Mishra & Brig BV Rao with the Army's unique operational reach in Kashmir.
The initiative started with an extensive screening programme. Eighteen screening camps were conducted across the areas covering forward and remote locations including Tangdhar, Dawar, Machhal, Uri, Baramulla, Bandipora, Khanabal and Kangan. Nearly 6,000 patients were screened, of whom 400 were identified and shortlisted for cataract surgery.
The surgical programme was conducted in two phases, together accounting for the full 400 planned surgeries. Across both phases, the initiative brought together specialist ophthalmology, military medical infrastructure and community outreach with one common objective: Restoring vision and improving the quality of life of people who had been living with visual impairments.
Phase I — Tangdhar, 24–25 September 2026: 200 cataract surgeries were performed at the Underground Forward Surgical Centre (UG FSC). Performing high-volume ophthalmic microsurgery under terrain, weather and space constraints of a forward military environment. This marked for the first time, that cataract surgery of this scale was performed at an UG FSC, demonstrated the Army's ability & will to take specialised surgical care to the doorstep of the Awaam, even in the most demanding operational environments.
Phase II — Srinagar, 28–29 September 2026: Following the move of the surgical team and equipment from Tangdhar, a further 200 cataract surgeries were conducted at 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, sustaining the same specialist care and proficiency.
Closing Ceremony
The initiative culminated in a closing ceremony at Chinar Auditorium, 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, on 30 September 2026. Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, attended the ceremony as Chief Guest, interacting with beneficiaries, participating in the distribution of post-operative kits, and felicitating members of the surgical team and other distinguished guests.
In his address, the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor said:
“OP DRISHTI is a shining example of how our armed forces reach beyond the call of duty to serve the people of this land. It reinforces the Indian Army's unwavering commitment to healthcare outreach in the most inaccessible corners of Jammu and Kashmir. Initiatives like this are the true foundation of Naya Kashmir - one built on trust, service and shared humanity.”
The presence of beneficiaries and their families lent the ceremony its most meaningful dimension - their smiles, gratitude and renewed confidence stood as the truest measure of OP DRISHTI's success.
