Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar SM

Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar hailed from Haridwar in Uttarakhand and received his early education at Delhi Public School, Ranipur, Haridwar, from where he passed out in 1996. Deeply motivated to serve the nation, he appeared for the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination and, on selection, joined the prestigious NDA at Pune to begin his military journey. After completing his rigorous training at the NDA, he proceeded to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, for the final phase of his officer training. Upon commissioning, he was inducted into the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), one of the most vital arms of the Indian Army, entrusted with ensuring seamless logistics, supply chains, and material support during both war and peace. The Army Ordnance Corps plays a critical role in sustaining the operational readiness of the Army. Its responsibility extends to managing, storing, and providing every conceivable requirement of a soldier—from clothing, equipment, and weapons to heavy military hardware, including tanks and ammunition. The AOC’s motto is to deliver the “right material, at the right place, at the right time, in the right quantity, and at the right cost.” In essence, it serves as the backbone of the Army’s supply chain, with the exception of fuel, fodder, and medicines, which are managed by other corps.

Over the course of his service, Lt Col Panwar held various important appointments, including at the Ordnance Depot in Talegaon near Pune, where he contributed to strengthening logistics operations. His professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence made him a dependable officer in the challenging field of military logistics. In 2016, Lt Col Panwar was posted to the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) at Pulgaon, one of the largest ammunition depots in the country. Located around 115 kilometers from Nagpur and spread across more than 7,000 acres, CAD Pulgaon is a high-security and highly sensitive installation. It houses a massive inventory of ammunition and explosives stored in hundreds of sheds and is directly controlled by Army Headquarters. CAD’s role is pivotal, as it receives ammunition and explosives from ordnance factories and other authorized sources and then distributes them to field ammunition depots and units across the country to ensure uninterrupted operational preparedness of the Indian Army.

Explosion at CAD: 31st May 2016

In May 2016, Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar was serving at Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) Pulgaon in Maharashtra. On 31 May 2016, a devastating accident occurred at the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) Pulgaon. In the early hours of the morning, at around 01:30 AM, an accidental fire broke out in one of the ammunition sheds. Given the enormous quantities of highly sensitive ammunition and explosives stored at the depot, even a minor fire carried the potential for catastrophic destruction. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, multiple teams were immediately mobilized on a war footing to contain the blaze. Among those who led from the front were Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar and Major Manoj Kumar. Displaying exceptional courage and presence of mind, both officers, along with fire-fighting teams and other personnel, made valiant efforts to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining sheds. Their prompt action and fearless leadership played a crucial role in confining the blaze to a single shed, thereby averting what could have been a disaster of far greater magnitude.

However, the situation soon turned tragic. The raging fire triggered a series of powerful explosions, making the environment extremely hazardous. Undeterred by the imminent danger, Lt Col Panwar and Major Manoj Kumar continued their efforts to safeguard lives and critical stores. In this selfless act of duty, they paid the ultimate price. The horrific accident claimed the lives of both officers along with 15 brave soldiers of the Defence Security Corps (DSC), who too stood firm in the line of duty. For his outstanding bravery, inspirational leadership, and supreme sacrifice in the face of extreme danger, Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal. His actions on that fateful day epitomized the finest traditions of the Indian Army—where the call of duty is placed above personal safety, and service to the nation is held as the highest honor.

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Lt Col Ranjit Singh Panwar is survived by his parents, wife Smt Reenu Panwar and son Roby.