Lt Shashank Tiwari. (Photo: Indian Army)
Kalimpong: Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, a 23-year-old Indian Army officer, died while saving a fellow soldier’s life during a routine military operation in the challenging terrain of North Sikkim district, north of Beechu, on Thursday, the service said. Lt Tiwari fell into a fast-flowing mountain stream during a route-opening mission at a strategically important area close to the line of actual control (LAC) with China.
The incident occurred at approximately 11.10am during what began as a standard operational task. A team from the 1st Battalion Sikkim Scouts had departed from Beechu at 9am to navigate the area’s notoriously difficult terrain – something for which the regiment is specially trained.
Agniveer Stephan Subba slipped while crossing a precarious log bridge over a stream swollen by recent rains. As Subba was swept away by the powerful current, Lt Tiwari immediately leapt into the icy waters without hesitation. Naik Pukar Katel, who was in the company, also joined the rescue attempt.
While Tiwari successfully saved Subba’s life, the young officer could not escape the relentless torrent. Despite desperate efforts by his team to reach him, Tiwari was carried away by the current. His body was recovered 800 metres downstream by 11.30am.
Lt Tiwari's actions reflected the “Chetwode Credo”, the foundational principle of the Indian Military Academy established in 1932. The credo emphasizes that an officer’s own safety comes last, after the welfare of the nation and the men under their command.
Commissioned just six months ago on December 14, 2024, Lt Tiwari demonstrated these values in their purest form during his final moments.
The Army praised Tiwari’s courage as exemplifying the service’s core principles of selfless service, integrity, and leadership by example. In an official statement, the service said: “Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari's courage and commitment to his men are a testament to the finest traditions of the Indian Army,” adding, “He has made the nation proud.”
Lest We Forget
— Trishakticorps_IA (@trishakticorps) May 23, 2025
Lt Shashank Tiwari made the supreme sacrifice while rescuing a fellow soldier during an operational patrol in high-altitude North #Sikkim.
A wreath was laid with full military honours by Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla, GOC Trishakti Corps, at Bengdubi Military Station,… pic.twitter.com/v4qzekcpBe
Lt Tiwari, who hailed from a modest family in Uttar Pradesh, was his village’s pride. His father, a schoolteacher, had long dreamed of seeing his son serve the nation – an aspiration fulfilled at the ultimate cost.
“He always wanted to make a difference,” his father said, his voice reflecting both grief and pride. “He died doing what he believed in.”
The young officer served with the Sikkim Scouts, a regiment affiliated with the 11 Gorkha Rifles and stationed in Sikkim since 2014. The regiment’s motto, “Kayar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Ramro” (Better to die than be a coward), found its truest expression in Lt Tiwari’s sacrifice.
The incident has reignited discussions about the unique nature of military service and its distinction from civilian roles. Indian social media platforms have been flooded with tributes highlighting the extraordinary risks faced by soldiers in their daily duties. The reality that military service involves immediate, life-threatening risks that distinguish it from other forms of public service is also being widely discussed.
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, expressed the nation’s grief. He said, “The nation has lost a true son. Lt Shashank Tiwari’s bravery will inspire generations of Indians. My deepest sympathies to his family.”
The Army has announced that Lt Tiwari will receive posthumous recognition for his gallantry, with a military funeral planned in his hometown.
Meanwhile, in North Sikkim, local residents gathered to pay their respects at a makeshift memorial near the stream where Lt Tiwari lost his life. “He died for one of us,” said a local villager, capturing the profound impact of the officer’s sacrifice on the region.
The gesture reflected the deep bond between the Sikkim Scouts and the local community they serve.
