Prabhat Kumar: A Martyr of INS Khukhri 1971

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the crew members of the INS Khukri. On 9 December 1971, the INS Khukri sank after it was torpedoed by a Pakistani submarine. The names of the 176 sailors and 18 officers who died are recorded below\; there were 67 survivors.

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs. There will be a separate page for each person of the 194 INS Khukri martyrs. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for Prabhat Kumar.

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From The War Dead India Trust

Birth: 03 Jul 1937
Died: 09 Dec 1971

Citation for award of Vir Chakra

Lieutenant Commander Prabhat Kumar was the electrical officer of the INS Khukri, which sank in the Arabian Sea after a Pakistani submarine attack. On 9 December 1971, whilst carrying out an antisubmarine hunt, INS Khukri was hit by a torpedo. Realising the danger to his men, Lieutenant Commander Prabhat Kumar went below to get his men to safety. In the meantime, the ship was hit by another torpedo. Despite the fact that the chances of his survival were getting less every second, he continued to help his men to safety and in so doing made the supreme sacrifice.

Throughout Lieutenant Commander Prabhat Kumar displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

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