Modi visits soldier who miraculously survived Siachen avalanche

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday went to Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi to see Lance Naik Hanumanthappa who was miraculously found alive after remaining buried under huge mass of snow for six days at Siachen Glacier.

"Going to see Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, with prayers from the entire nation," Modi tweeted just before visiting the hospital.

"No words are enough to describe the endurance & indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier," he tweeted.

"Team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping & praying for the best," Modi added.

Hanumanthappa was flown here from Siachen Glacier this morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital.

His condition is critical but stable and he is undergoing various tests in the hospital, army sources said.

Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive on Monday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius.

The family rejoiced when they came to know that he was alive. “I am very happy, I want to go and see him,” Hanumanthappa's wife said. She along with a relative later visited the village temple to offer their prayers for the well being of the soldier.

His mother Bassava told ANI in Dharwad, Karnataka, that her son came in her dream and told her that he would return.
The other nine personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and eight other ranks of Madras Regiment, have died, according to Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander. "Five bodies have been recovered so far and four bodies have been identified," he has said.