New Delhi, Nov 22 (NationPress) In a remarkable demonstration of dedication to both military personnel and the local populace, the Northern Command's Command Hospital in Udhampur has successfully wrapped up 'Op Drishti' — an unprecedented advanced surgical eye camp — in partnership with a specialized surgical team from the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in New Delhi, as reported by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Saturday.

Conducted from November 18 to 22, the camp surpassed all expectations, screening over 2,000 individuals and carrying out more than 400 intricate eye surgeries, including treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disorders.

Participants included active-duty personnel, their family members, Veer Naris (war widows), and local civilians, who traveled from remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including distant villages in Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Ramban, and more.

The surgical team comprised highly qualified and seasoned ophthalmologists, led by Brigadier S.K. Mishra, a renowned ophthalmic surgeon and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), who has the honor of performing surgeries on two Indian Presidents, according to the MoD's press release.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a virtual address at the closing ceremony, commending the Northern Command and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for their commitment to providing urgent medical assistance to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi also addressed the audience virtually, congratulating the AFMS and Northern Command for this exceptional initiative.

Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was present at the closing ceremony.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, attended the event as well.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the camp on November 20 to interact with the patients.

The camp yielded transformative outcomes, restoring vision for 96-year-old Rajkumari Devi and 72-year-old Surinder Singh from Poonch.

After regaining his sight, Surinder Singh, who experienced significant losses during Operation Sindoor shelling, expressed his gratitude by actively encouraging fellow citizens facing hardships to utilize the available services.

In a similar vein, 56-year-old retired soldier Abdullah Shafeeq from Mendhar played a crucial role in coordinating support for residents affected by conflict.

'Op Drishti' stands as a compelling testament to the AFMS and Northern Command's unwavering dedication to the health and welfare of the region.