Brave army officer Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari dies heroically rescuing fellow soldier in North Sikkim

A 23-year-old young Army officer, Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, died while saving a fellow soldier, who fell into a mountain stream during an operational patrol in "high altitude area of NorthSikkim, in the line of duty, army officials said. The last rites of Tiwari was held on Saturday, after his body was brought to his Ayodhya.

He was posted in Sikkim on his first assignment

Agniveer Stephan Subba had slipped while crossing a log bridge and was swept away by the torrent stream, people in the know said. When Lieutenant Tiwari, from Sikkim Scouts Regiment, was leading a team to a strategic location prepared for future deployment, the incident occured.
In a bid to rescue the fellow soldier, Lieutenant Tiwari jumped into the torrent stream. Another fellow soldier Naik Pukar Katel also jumped into the water to help Tiwari in the rescue job. They successfully pulled Subba to safety but Tiwari was carried away by current.


Lieutenant Tiwari, who was carried away by the strong current, was found after half an hour around 800 metres downstream. Despite immediate rescue efforts by the patrol team, his body was found around half an hour.
"His bravery and devotion to duty will continue to inspire generations," the Army said, sharing the news of Tiwari's death, who was commissioned into the versive just six months ago.
In a post in X Handle, Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff posted, "General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff and All Ranks of #IndianArmedForces salute the unwavering courage and selfless devotion of #Braveheart Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, who made the supreme sacrifice while heroically rescuing a brother soldier during an operational patrol in High Altitude Area of #NorthSikkim. His exceptional valour and sense of duty will remain etched in our hearts and inspire generations to come. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family; we stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief."

Eastern Command, in its X Handle, posted, "Lt Gen RC Tiwari, #ArmyCdrEC & All Ranks express deepest condolences on the demise of Lt Shashank Tiwari who made supreme sacrifice while rescuing a fellow soldier from being swept away in a river during an operational patrol in HAA in #NorthSikkim. #IndianArmy stands firmly with the bereaved family."

Tiwari, a resident of Gaddopur in Ayodhya Cantonment, had joined the Indian Army last year after clearing the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance examination in 2019.