Bhubaneswar: The brave heart naval officer from Odisha’s Kendrapara district Lieutenant Bimal Ranjan Behera was conferred Shaurya Chakra gallantry award at a ceremonial event yesterday.

Lieutenant Behera fearlessly came forward as a lead diver on March 6, 2023, when ONGC had reported an operational emergency in the Fuel Production Storage and Offloading vessel. The Shaurya Chakra awardee dived into a death-defying and hostile operation and carried out his duties showing gallantry, extraordinary valour and not caring for personal safety in the line of his duty.

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Worth mentioning, President Draupadi Murmu conferred the gallantry awards, including Kirti Chakras and Shaurya Chakras to the armed forces personnel, Central Armed Police Forces, and State & Union Territory police during Phase-I Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

President Murmu conferred at least 10 Kirti Chakras, of which seven were presented posthumously to the personnel of army and paramilitary forces for displaying indomitable courage. Out of the total 26 Shaurya Chakras presented by the President, seven were conferred posthumously.