A military officer of the ‘Sikkim Scouts’ died while saving his fellow soldier from drowning in a raging river in Sikkim. This information has been given in a statement issued by the Defense Department.
According to the statement, the incident took place during a patrol of soldiers on Thursday morning, when Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari was leading a ‘route-clearing’ team. The team was heading towards a strategic forward post being set up in the high altitude area of North Sikkim. At around 11 am, Agniveer Stephen Subba lost his balance while crossing a temporary wooden bridge and was swept away by the strong current.
The statement said, “Lieutenant Tiwari immediately jumped into the cold water to save his companion. Soon Naik Pukar Kateel also joined him and together they pulled Subba out safely. However, during this time Lieutenant Tiwari himself was swept away by the strong current of water. His body was recovered about 800 meters downstream in half an hour.
The Eastern Command of the Indian Army paid tribute to the young officer on Friday. Lieutenant Tiwari joined the Army on December 14, 2024. He showed unwavering commitment and courage in just a few months. Tiwari, a native of Gadopur Majhwa village in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, was the only child of his parents. His father is a retired sailor of the Indian Navy. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang paid tribute to Lieutenant Tiwari in a Facebook post.