Lt Amit Kumar Beniwal

Lt Amit Beniwal was born on 28 February 1985 in Safipur village in Beri Tahsil of Jhajjar district of Haryana. Son of Shri Krishan Kumar Beniwal, Lt Amit studied from Holy Child Public School, Rewari (Haryana) and later completed his graduation from Chandigarh. He was fascinated with the army life and was keen to join the Armed Forces since his childhood. Soon after his graduation he pursued his dream and got selected to join the Army through Combined Defence Services Examination. He was commissioned on 22 Sep 2007 into Army Ordnance Corps, the corps responsible for providing material and logistical support to the Indian Army during war and peace.

Lt Amit Beniwal was a keen sportsman right from his school days and had won many laurels in Taekwondo at state and national levels. He also had interest in poetry & painting. After completing his training Lt Amit got posted to J & K as his first assignment and was attached with 8 Bihar battalion of the Bihar Regiment. 

Gurez Sector Avalanche : 17 Nov 2008

During 2008, Lt Amit Beniwal was serving with 8^th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment deployed in J & K. He was functioning as Ghatak Platoon commander of his battalion and was also , Avalanche Rescue Operation In-charge of that area. The unit was deployed in Gurez Sector along the LOC and had to face extreme weather conditions specially during winter months. The soldiers also had to take extra precautions as the area was prone to deadly avalanches. The soldiers of Lt Amit’s unit faced one such horrific avalanche on 17 Nov 2008, and three soldiers of an area domination patrol got trapped under tons of snow.

On getting information about the missing soldiers of the unit, Lt Amit Beniwal was tasked to undertake search and rescue operation. He immediately swung into action along with the available gear and troops to rescue his soldiers.  Despite facing extremely hostile weather conditions and total disregard to his own safety Lt Amit Beniwal launched the rescue operation as the time was very crucial. However, Lt Amit Beniwal too got trapped and got buried under snow while carrying out the rescue operation. Lt Amit Beniwal displayed cold courage, comradeship and leadership of a very high order and laid down his life in the service of the nation, following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.