‘Proud of my son, he laid his life while saving his comrades’

LUCKNOW: He lost his 26-year-old Army officer son just a couple of hours ago. But his voice was firm, exuding pride. "I’m proud of my son, he laid his life while saving his comrades," said Subedar (retired) Ravi Pratap Singh, the father of Captain (Dr) Anshuman Singh, who succumbed to severe burn injuries on Wednesday morning after the ammunition dump at Chandan post caught fire due to alleged short circuit. The dump was adjacent to living bunkers. "I will pay my respect to his mortal remains for the bravery he showed in the unforgivable environment of Siachen, and bid adieu to him with proper ritual of cremation on Thursday at our ancestral home in Deoria district," Subedar (retired) Singh told TOI over the phone. He and other family members were on their way to Deoria on Wednesday evening. Captain (Dr) Singh was the regiment medical officer and first posting at Siachen was about to culminate soon. Anshuman completed his MBBS from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, nearly four years ago and got married in February with Srishti Singh based in Noida.Anshuman was an alumnus of Chail Military SchoolAccording to a condolence message released by Georgians Association, Delhi (associated with ‘Rashtriya Military Schools), “Captain Anshuman Singh lost his life after rescuing three of his comrades and didn't come out when he went in again to help those stuck in the bunkers. He died as a hero upholding the highest Army traditions of comradeship, valour and sacrifice. He has immortalized himself and made his family, Corps, alma mater and the entire Georgian fraternity proud (sic)”.Leh-based Defence spokesperson Lt Col PS Sidhu said, “A fire incident occurred at Siachen Glacier on Wednesday at around 0300 hrs (3 am)".Anshuman was an alumnus of Chail Military School. His father, too, served in theSignal corps of the Indian Army and is settled in the Alamnagar area of Lucknow.According to official military sources, a special flight will carry the mortal remains of Anshuman to Gorakhpur from New Delhi and further by road to Deoria.Indian Army in a statement said that 'General Manoj Pande COAS and all ranks of Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Captain Anshuman Singh who laid down his life in the line of duty at Siachen and offer deepest condolences to the bereaved family'.