Paradip, July 25: Surendra Kumar Sahoo is a role model for many youths living in his native Chanchunia village near here.

The 52-year-old Kargil war hero looks back on his days on the battlefield as the country gears up to celebrate Vijay Divas tomorrow. Vijay Divas is held every year to honour heroes of the Kargil war.

The brutalities of war and life in the extremely difficult terrain are etched in Sahoo's memory. "It was a close shave for us on numerous occasions. I escaped death only because of the constant prayers of my loved ones," said Sahoo.

A soldier of the 19th infantry at Baramula in Kashmir, Sahoo waged battle against both the Pakistani forces and inhospitable weather. "We had to trek through miles of snow with the temperature way below zero. It was our willpower that led us to victory."

The war lasted 60 days. "Our unit had amazing team spirit and patriotic fervour. I was at the battlefront for more than a month. Our unit razed to the ground a number of Pakistani bunkers and killed their soldiers in grenade attacks in the Drass sector."

The unit had made effective use of artillery and machine guns besides grenades. "The enemy forces were no match for our superior arms power," he said.

Sahoo took a break from the army in 2015 after service to the country for three decades in Kashmir, Punjab, Leh and Siachen sectors.

"The Kargil war was a feather in my soldier's cap. Now, I live in my village and draw a monthly pension of Rs 30,000. I am happy that the Union government accepted our demands on One Rank One Pension last year," said Sahoo.

He was decorated with five medals including an "Operation Vijay" medal for his heroism during the Kargil war and in the Siachen sector.

For the people of Chanchunia and nearby areas, Sahoo is a role model. More than a dozen of youths from Chanchunia and nearby villages have made their way to defence and paramilitary force jobs. "They were inspired by Surendra," said local resident Ramakant Swain.