Mahavir Chakra Awardee Commodore Kasargod Patnashetti Gopal Rao dies at 94

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 09, 2021: VSM Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao expired in Besant Nagar, Chennai on Monday, 9th August 2021 due to old age. He was 94 years. Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 21st April 1950 and was specialist in Gunnery. In 1971, Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao was the Commanding Officer of INS Kiltan in the Eastern Naval Command.  However, with the war looming against Pakistan, Admiral S.M.Nanda, the then chief of Naval Staff, personally appointed Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao to join the Western Naval Command so as to command ‘Operation Trident’ against Pakistan.  Admiral Nanda believed that Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao was the best man to command this offensive operation against Pakistan. 

 

Indian Government gave the go ahead to attack Karachi Harbour after Pakistan carried out an attack on Indian without declaring War. This was the first offensive naval action from the Indian side. On the night of 04/05 Dec 1971, during the Indo- Pak Operations, a small task group of the Western Fleet under Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao carried out an offensive sweep on the part of Karachi.  Notwithstanding the threat of enemy,  air surface and submarine attack, Commodore Kasaragod Patnashetti Gopal Rao led his task group deep into enemy waters and located two groups of large enemy warships. Despite heavy gun fire from enemy destroyers, Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao carried out a determined attack which resulted in the sinking of enemy destroyers and one minesweeper.  After the surface engagement  with enemy warships, Commodore Rao left his task group to invade deep into enemy waters and bombarded Karachi Port setting fire to oil and other installations in the harbor.
 
In this operation, Commodore K.P. Gopal Rao displayed conspicuous gallantry and outstanding leadership in the best traditions of the Indian Navy and was awarded the first MAHA VIR CHAKRA in the Indian Navy.  As a result, the Karachi Port was paralysed. It is to mark this operational victory the Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day on every year 4th December.

He is survived by wife, 1 son and 2 daughters. The funeral was held from his residence at Besant Nagar, Chennai with all military honours.