Did Modi let us down during Siachen glacier tragedy?

Miracles do happen: even at the world’s highest battlefield Siachen. On February 9, an Army jawan was miraculously found alive under 35 feet of snow, after six days.

Tragedy befell the Indian Army on February 3, when 10 soldiers including a JCO, went missing after an avalanche buried their post on the hostile glacier, where ice is stronger than steel.

Hope remained short-lived. The government did not keep the fingers crossed beyond 24 hours. On February 4, when the rescue operation was underway, and bodies yet to be recovered, all the soldiers were declared dead.

But then, luck favoured Lance Naik Hanamanthappa, whose will to live proved the cynics wrong.

This miracle soldier braved the hostile conditions to survive being buried under 35 feet of ice at 20,500 feet. His expertise in yoga, especially breathing exercises, worked wonders.

But then how come did the government brass jump to the conclusion of declaring all the soldiers dead? Was it premature mourning, a race, where being second to tweet condolence would have brought embarrassment?

As per Section 108 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872 "Person is presumed to be dead who is unheard of for more than seven years by those who would naturally have heard of him/her if he/she had been alive".

But this time, leave apart others, even the prime minister, Narendra Modi jumped to conclusion.

He led the nation in paying tributes to the soldiers. "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families," Modi tweeted on February 4.

It seems to be for the first time that the missing soldiers were declared dead, almost instantly. Even during the Kargil war, no solider was declared dead for months till their bodies were not recovered.

But then protocol break. On Tuesday, Modi visited Delhi’s Research and Referral Hospital where Hanamanthappa, is recuperating. News reports said prime minister cared little for his security protocol, throwing his elite security guards into a tizzy.

As per a news report in DNA published today on February 10, Modi broke protocol to visit the Siachen soldier. "Modi took the front seat on a Range Rover, which did not even have a beacon light. Sources said this was actually a tailing car and not meant for the VVIP," the report said.

When miracles happen, protocol is broken. And, Modi takes the lead to proudly uphold the iconic: Jai Jawan, Mera Bharat Mahan!