Commodore Kasargod Patnashetti Gopal Rao, a 1971 war hero and recipient of Mahavir Chakra breathed his last on Monday.
The 94-year-old naval veteran died of age-related illness and was cremated with full military honours by the Navy at the Besant Nagar Crematorium in Chennai.
Rao was a recipient of the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) also.
He played a key role in the war with Pakistan to liberate East Pakistan that is now Bangladesh.
During the 1971 war, he was appointed as Commanding Officer of INS Kiltan and on the night of December 4-5, "Rao led his Task Group to invade deep into enemy waters and bombarded the Karachi Port setting fire to oil and other installations in the harbour."