President Droupadi Murmu honored Captain Anshuman Singh with the Kirti Chakra on Friday for his heroic actions in saving his fellow soldiers from a fire at Siachen, an event that led to his death. A video of the award ceremony, showing Captain Singh’s wife receiving the honor from the president, has gained widespread attention on social media.
The Kirti Chakra is India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
In the brief video, Smriti Singh, accompanied by Captain Singh’s mother, stands before the president at the ceremony. Overcome with emotion, the young woman in white folds her hands as her late husband’s bravery is recognized.
“Disregarding his own safety, he exhibited exceptional bravery and resolve to rescue many people in a major fire incident,” the president shared in a post on X.
Social media users have commended Smriti Singh for her remarkable strength and grace during the ceremony.
“Wives & Mothers of defence personnel are the strongest women. Hon’ble President of India walked to the young Wife & the Mother of Capt (Dr) Anshuman Singh, Kirti Chakra (posthumous) to present the award,” Lieutenant General (Retd) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon wrote on X.
In July last year, a short circuit caused a fire at an Indian Army ammunition dump in Siachen around 3 a.m. Captain Singh worked to rescue those trapped inside a nearby fiberglass hut as it caught fire. When the blaze spread to a medical investigation shelter, he tried to retrieve life-saving medicine stored there. In the process, he sustained severe burns and later succumbed to his injuries.
Captain Singh and Smriti Singh were married in February last year after he graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune. Siachen, under Operation Meghdoot, was his first posting.