Siachen soldier found alive is critical, PM visits hospital

New Delhi/Jammu

An Indian Army soldier, found alive six days after being presumed dead under 25 feet of snow following an avalanche at the Siachen glacier, is critical and has been flown to a hospital in Delhi, where Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited him at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) here.

Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad was one of the 10 soldiers of the 19 Madras Regiment who got trapped in the deadly avalanche on February 3 while manning the highest helipad in the world on the Saltoro Ridge of the glacier.

Officials in New Delhi said that the soldier admitted in ICU was in a “critical” condition.

They said he was admitted at the Army Research and Referral Hospital — a special health care facility in south Delhi.

The soldier was found on Monday.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reached hospital to see Hanumanthappa.

Prime Minister in his tweets said: “No words are enough to describe the endurance and indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier. Team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping and praying for the best.”

Army chief General Dalbir Singh also visited the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) here to get update on the condition of Hanumanthappa.

“All the other soldiers are regrettably no more with us,” GOC northern command Lt General D.S.Hooda said in an official statement on Tuesday.

“We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us,” Hooda added.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Rajiv Chandrashekhar has facilitated air travel to Hanumanthappa’s family from Dharwad(Karnataka) to Delhi.

– With inputs from agency