Poonam Nath

Lt. Shashank Tiwari's final rites will be performed in Ayodhya following his death in Sikkim

Digital Desk: The final rites of 22-year-old Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, who gave his life to save a fellow soldier during a patrol operation in Sikkim, will be observed today, May 24, in Ayodhya.

Tiwari, a resident of Gaddopur in Ayodhya Cantonment, joined the Indian Army last year after passing the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam in 2019. His first mission took him to Sikkim.

His lifeless remains were carried from Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri to Ayodhya late Friday. The body was transferred to the Faizabad Military Hospital and will be detained overnight, according to officials.

The funeral will take place on Saturday at Jamthara Ghat, with full military and governmental honours.

Reportedly, the officer, Lt Tiwari, lost his life during a routine patrol in Ayodhya when a fellow soldier slipped into a river with a strong current. Lt Tiwari rescued the soldier but was swept away. His father, Jung Bahadur Tiwari, is currently in the United States.

Lt Tiwari was bright in academics and aspired to serve the nation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to the officer's courage and sacrifice.

CM Yogi also announced a memorial will be built in his honor and the state government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for his family.