War memorial for women who rebuilt airstrip for IAF in '71 war

Kutch (Guj), Aug 27: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and HRD Minister Smriti Irani today inaugurated 'Virangana Smarak', a war memorial dedicated to 300 women of Madhapar village in Bhuj tehsil in Kutch district of Gujarat today.

These women re-constructed an air-strip for the Indian Air Force within 72 hours after it was destroyed in Pakistani air strikes during the 1971 war.

Speaking at the function in Madhpur, Irani, who had sanctioned a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the memorial earlier, said, "I had promised to make a memorial here and I am happy to fulfil that promise."

PTI