Nb Sub Sawai Singh SC

Nb Sub Sawai Singh hailed from Deenwa Ladkhani village in Fatehpur tehsil of Sikar district, Rajasthan. He was the son of Shri Dhukal Singh and Smt Smt Suraj. From a young age, he aspired to serve the nation by joining the Indian Army, a dream he pursued with dedication and determination. After completing his school education, he fulfilled his ambition and was recruited into the 5th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment. Known for its gallant soldiers and rich legacy of battle honours, the Rajputana Rifles is one of the most decorated infantry regiments in the Indian Army. Nb Sub Sawai Singh embodied the values of courage and resilience that the regiment stands for, dedicating himself to the service of the nation.

Ladakh Avalanche: 08 Mar 1979

During March 1979, Nb Sub Sawai Singh's unit 5 Raj Rif was deployed in the challenging terrain of Kargil district in Ladakh. The troops were stationed at forward posts in the Drass Sector along the Line of Control (LoC). These posts were located at high altitudes, characterized by extreme weather conditions, with harsh winters, unpredictable avalanches, and snow blizzards. The soldiers endured severe hardships to safeguard the nation's borders in such inhospitable conditions. In the last week of February 1979, the region experienced heavy snowfall, leaving the area blanketed in several feet of snow. This was accompanied by multiple avalanches across the Kargil sector, affecting posts at Kaksar, Kharboo, Mushkoh, and Handurman. The heavy snowfall also caused road links to be cut off, adding to the difficulties faced by the soldiers. The situation worsened with a mild earthquake that followed, which further destabilized the region. Several bunkers along the LoC were destroyed, burying many soldiers under tons of snow.

On March 8, 1979, one such massive avalanche struck the post manned by Nb Sub Sawai Singh and his comrades. The suddenness and ferocity of the avalanche caught the soldiers off guard, leaving them no time to take preventive measures. Many soldiers, including Nb Sub Sawai Singh, were trapped and buried under thick layers of snow. The Army immediately launched a rescue operation, deploying teams equipped with specialized equipment to extricate the trapped soldiers as quickly as possible. Despite their best efforts, and though some soldiers were rescued, Nb Sub Sawai Singh could not be saved due to prolonged exposure to the extreme cold. He made the supreme sacrifice while fulfilling his duty in one of the most adverse conditions faced by the armed forces. Nb Sub Sawai Singh was a courageous and dedicated soldier who exemplified the values of bravery, duty, and sacrifice. Nb Sub Sawai Singh was given the nation’s third-highest gallantry award “Shaurya Chakra”, for his courage, unyielding fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.