Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad and nine of his colleagues were resting when a huge wall of ice came crashing down on their post on February 3. It all happened so quickly that none of the ten had time to react. All of them were were buried under 25 feet of snow at the Siachen glacier.
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force launched massive but extremely difficult operation to locate the Indian post and pull out the buried soldiers. Chance of any of them surviving under the snow in Siachen's extreme climate was dim.
Speaking on the tragedy, Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C (army commander), Northern Command said, "In the ongoing rescue operation at Siachen, of the ten soldiers buried under ice Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad has been found alive, all the other soldiers are regrettably no more with us. The medical condition of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad is critical but all attempts are being made to evacuate him to RR Hospital in the morning. We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us."
There's a video being circulated online said to be of the Siachen rescue. Army officials have told India Today reporters that it isn't accurate.
Incorrect. This is not of the Siachen rescue. https://t.co/5fOiqtPXrN
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 9, 2016
A rescue mission in progress
Amazing! Video of our Avalanche hit Jawan being rescued after 6 days. Video being circulated on social. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Zf3ERc2Rv6
— Rajesh Kalra (@rajeshkalra) February 9, 2016
Stellar role by Avalanche dogs like this one in finding Lance Naik Hanamanthappa. Photo from the rescue site. pic.twitter.com/pFsBCsoVIZ
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 9, 2016
More images just in from the Siachen rescue site. #SiachenMiracle pic.twitter.com/Yw0jAksKac
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 9, 2016
More images just in from the Siachen rescue site. #SiachenMiracle pic.twitter.com/Yw0jAksKac
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 9, 2016