KOCHI: R Murugaiyan, an engineer at BPCL Kochi Refinery, who had taken part in rescue operations in the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, was honoured with Major rank in the 801 Engineers Regiment of Corps of Engineers of Meerut Brigade under the Central Command of the Indian Army.
Murugaiyan, who was also a member of the team which protected oil installations post-2002 Godhra train burning incident, was honoured at a ceremony held in the Regiment at Agra Fort, Agra.
The new rank will be effective from December 16, 2008.
Earlier, he was appointed commissioner officer in the rank of Lieutenant by the President with effect from November 14, 2000, and was posted at 801 Engineers Regiment Refineries and Pipelines (Territorial Army), Agra Fort.
He participated in rescue and relief operations during the earthquake in Gujarat in 2001 and was in the team which protected oil installations in Vadodara during the riots post-Godhra train-burning incident in 2002.
Kochi Refinery conferred Murugaiyan with certificate of honour.
He was also called in for service in Kochi Refineries during the all-India strike by oil-sector officers. He was granted the substantive rank of captain with effect from December 16, 2007. He was adjudged the best officer in March 2002 and was declared the Overall Best Officer during the annual training camp in February-March 2007.