Siachen:
In a miraculous escape, an army soldier, who was buried 25 feet under snow after an avalanche hit Siachen 6 days back, was found alive by rescuers and transported to Delhi hospital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met him.
#SiachenMiracle PM Narendra Modi leaves Army RR Hospital after meeting Lance Naik Hanumanthappa pic.twitter.com/ILnngURVbx
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 9, 2016
PM reached Army RR Hospital to meet Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who survived an avalanche in Siachen around 1PM. He is ssaid to be in critical condition.
No words are enough to describe the endurance & indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 9, 2016
The discovery of his survival was made suddenly after a group of soldiers found Lance Naik Hanaman Thappa Koppad (alive in critical condition in the rescue operations at the 19,600-feet altitude on Monday.
The soldier, with a faint pulse, was found under 25-feet of snow and was rushed to a "warm tent" in the location to stabilise him with the help of doctors. When possible, he will be flown out of the glacial heights.
Team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping & praying for the best: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 9, 2016
According to Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander, "It was a miraculous rescue. The medical condition of L/N Hanamanthappa is critical but all attempts are being made to evacuate him to the Army Research & Referral Hospital (in New Delhi) on Tuesday morning. We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us. Five bodies have been recovered so far and four bodies have been identified. All other soldiers are regrettably no more with us.”
Koppad is a resident of Betadur, Dharwad district of Karnataka and was lucky enough to survive the battling conditions.
A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and nine other ranks of Madras Regiment were buried after their post was hit by the avalanche at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan where the tempreature was minus 45 degrees Celsius.
