Now Reading: Navy officer Shivam Kumar gets Shaurya Chakra for Gulf rescue
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Navy officer Shivam Kumar gets Shaurya Chakra for Gulf rescue
Lieutenant Commander Shivam Kumar of the Indian Navy has received the Shaurya Chakra for leading a dangerous rescue and recovery operation aboard the damaged LPG tanker MV Falcon in the Gulf of…
The Story in Brief
Lieutenant Commander Shivam Kumar of the Indian Navy has received the Shaurya Chakra for leading a dangerous rescue and recovery operation aboard the damaged LPG tanker MV Falcon in the Gulf of Aden on October 18, 2025, Siasat.com reports. The tanker caught fire after an explosion about 113 nautical miles southeast of Aden while sailing from Oman to Djibouti.
Kumar, the NBCD Officer aboard INS Trikand, repeatedly entered the tanker despite LPG leaks, toxic fumes, damaged structures and the risk of a secondary explosion. He led searches for two missing Indian crew members and helped recover their remains. The Shaurya Chakra recognises exceptional bravery outside direct combat.
The Indian Opinion
Some accounts may present this as a battlefield action, while others may reduce it to routine naval duty. Both readings miss the point. The award rests on a documented decision to enter a damaged LPG tanker repeatedly under several risks, including possible hostile action. That does not require embellishment. The official citation, with its operational details, should remain the yardstick rather than social-media claims about heroism.
Source: siasat.com
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