Date of Birth : December 4, 1995
Place of birth : Etah Dist(UP)
Service : Army
Last Rank : Lance Naik
Arm/Regt : The Grenadiers
Operation : CI & IS Ops
Martyrdom : December 23, 2022
Lance Naik Bhupendra Singh
Lance Naik Bhupendra Singh hailed from Tajpur Ada village in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. Son of an Army veteran Surendra Singh Rathore, L/Nk Bhupendra Singh had a younger brother Rajan as his sibling. He wanted to serve in the Armed Forces since his childhood like his father and grandfather who too served in the Army making L/Nk Bhupendra Singh a third-generation soldier. He eventually joined the Army after completing his school education in the year 2014 at the age of 19 years. He was recruited into 25 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers with a rich history of various battle honours. After serving for around three years, he got married with Ms Sarika in the year 2017 and the couple was blessed with a daughter.
Army Convoy Accident (Sikkim): 23 Dec 2022
During Dec 2022, L/Nk Bhupendra Singh's unit 25 Grenadiers battalion, was deployed in Sikkim near the Indo-China border. The AOR(Area of Responsibility) of the unit spanned over remote rugged mountainous terrain with extreme weather conditions, especially in the winter season. The troops were deployed on various forward posts and often undertook patrol to monitor the area in between the manned posts. Also, heavy snowfall often blocked the roads and hampered the movement of troops which necessitated frequent clearance operations. The mountainous roads in the AOR of the unit were narrow and had steep gradients posing serious challenges to the quick movement of troops. L/Nk Bhupendra Singh and his comrades were tasked for an operation on 23 Dec 2022 and had to move by road to the operational area.
As planned the three-vehicle convoy set off in the morning of 23 Dec from Chatten to reach Thangu. Besides 25 Grenadiers, the soldiers travelling in the convoy belonged to various other units which included, 285 Med Regt, 221 Fd Regt, 26 Mech Inf, 8 Raj Rif, 113 Engr Regt and 1871 Fd Regt. As the vehicle carrying L/Nk Bhupendra Singh and 19 other soldiers was on its way, it skidded down a steep slope at Zema in North Sikkim while negotiating a sharp turn. As the vehicle fell into a deep gorge, it got mangled beyond recognition due to the severe impact. As a result, all 20 soldiers got severely injured. The Army quickly launched the rescue operation and the injured soldiers were transferred to a field hospital, However, L/Nk Bhupendra Singh and fifteen other soldiers succumbed to their injuries and were martyred.
Besides L/Nk Bhupendra Singh, the other martyred soldiers included Nb Sub Omkar Singh (285 Med Regt), Nb Sub Chandan Kumar Mishra (285 Med Regt), L/Hav Gopinath Makur (26 Mech Inf), Hav Charan Singh (26 Mech Inf), Sep Sukha Ram (26 Mech Inf), Nk Ravinder Thapa (26 Mech Inf), Nk Vaisakh S (221 Fd Regt), Nk Pramod Kumar Singh(221 Fd Regt), Nk Shyam Singh Yadav (25 Grenadiers), Nk Lokesh Kumar (25 Grenadiers), Gdr Vikash (25 Grenadiers), Sub Guman Singh (8 Raj Rif), L/Hav Arvind Kumar (8 Raj Rif), L/Nk Somvir Singh (113 Engr Regt), and L/Nk Manoj Kumar(1871 Fd Regt). L/Nk Bhupendra Singh was a valiant and dedicated soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty.
L/Nk Bhupendra Singh is survived by his father Shri Surendra Singh Rathore, mother, wife Smt Sarika, daughter and brother Shri Rajan Singh.
Himanshu
2023 at 6:54 pmDear Family,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt condolences to you and your family for the sacrifice made by your beloved L/Nk Bhupendra Singh, a true hero who dedicated his life in service to our nation.
The story of L/Nk Bhupendra Singh’s service is one of courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment. Deployed near the Indo-China border in the challenging terrain of Sikkim, he and his fellow soldiers from Unit 25 Grenadiers battalion faced the harshest conditions. The remote and rugged mountainous terrain, coupled with extreme winter weather, demanded their steadfast vigilance.
The operational challenges they confronted were immense. Despite heavy snowfall blocking roads and steep gradients posing obstacles, L/Nk Bhupendra Singh and his comrades persevered. On December 23, 2022, as they embarked on an operation, tragedy struck. Their convoy, carrying soldiers from various units, skidded down a steep slope at Zema in North Sikkim. The impact was severe, leaving all 20 soldiers severely injured.
Despite the swift response and rescue efforts, L/Nk Bhupendra Singh, along with fifteen other soldiers, succumbed to their injuries, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice that will forever be etched in our hearts.
L/Nk Bhupendra Singh’s dedication to duty, his selflessness, and his commitment to protecting our nation’s borders are a testament to his character and valor. He joined the ranks of heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.
In the midst of grief, please know that your family is not alone. The nation stands with you, honoring L/Nk Bhupendra Singh’s memory and acknowledging the sacrifices made by all the brave soldiers who lost their lives in that tragic accident. L/Nk Bhupendra Singh’s memory will live on, inspiring us all to cherish and uphold the values of service, honor, and sacrifice.
May you find strength and solace in the memories you shared, the love you hold, and the knowledge that L/Nk Bhupendra Singh’s sacrifice has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of our nation.
With heartfelt condolences and deepest respect,
Himanshu