23-05-2025
Young Army officer dies rescuing a drowning soldier in Sikkim
Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts Regiment lost his life on Thursday while saving a fellow soldier during an operational task in North Sikkim, officials said on to an Army statement, the 23-year-old officer, commissioned just six months ago on December 14, 2024, displayed exemplary courage and leadership in the line of incident occurred while Lieutenant Tiwari was leading a Route Opening Patrol towards a Tactical Operating Base (TOB), a strategic location being prepared for future deployment. Around 11 am, Agniveer Stephan Subba slipped while crossing a log bridge and was swept away by a fast-moving mountain
Acting without hesitation, Lieutenant Tiwari jumped into the torrent in an attempt to save the soldier. Naik Pukar Katel also entered the water to assist. Together, they managed to pull the Agniveer to the process, however, Lieutenant Tiwari was carried away by the current. Despite immediate rescue efforts by the patrol team, his body was found 800 metres downstream nearly half an hour is survived by his parents and a Indian Army hailed Lieutenant Tiwari's actions as a reflection of the force's core values: selfless service, integrity, and leadership by example. His sacrifice, the Army said, underscores the enduring bond between officers and soldiers — a bond forged in both war and peace.
