Parbati Charan Das (1923–1949) was first Kargil martyr of India, made supreme sacrifice when trying to cross river Indus in October 1949.
Immediately after independence, India Army faced challenge of incursion of Pakistan backed militants in Jammu & Kashmir.
Though Army generally successful in repulsing this militants, but prolonged battle required control of strategic icy heights in the Kashmir sector.
On 5 October, Lieutenant Das had personally reconnoitered the place from where he wanted to establish the telephone cable across the river.
All attempts are gone in vain, in last resort Lieutenant Das decided to swim across the icy cool river, amidst high currents.
The then Commanding Officer of Lieut Das, Lt Col R P Yadava, in his letter to Baliram Das, wrote: "An ordinary officer of common mettle would never have dared to swim the flowing and tortuous Indus, but for gallant and brave Parbati, no obstacle of any description could deter him from achieving his object.