PM visits Siachen survivor, hails his 'indomitable spirit'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who was miraculously found alive after remaining under a huge mass of snow for six days in Siachen Glacier, saying he is an ‘outstanding soldier’ whose ‘endurance and indomitable spirit’ cannot be described in words.

Modi went to Army's Research and ReferralHospital in New Delhi to see Hanumanthappa soon after he was airlifted from Siachen and prayed for his best.

'No words are enough to describe the endurance and 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 and praying for the best (sic),' Modi added.

The Lance Naik was flown to New Delhi from Siachen on Tuesday morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and ReferralHospital.

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

Just before visiting the hospital, the prime minister tweeted: 'Going to see Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, with prayers from the entire nation.'

In Karnataka, Hanumanthappa's wife went to a temple in Dharwad to pray for his well-being.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag also visited the RR hospital to take stock of Hanumanthappa’s condition.

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 with Pakistan. The temperature at that altitude was -45°C.

Nine other personnel at the post, including a junior commissioned officer, 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 said.