How radio signal spurred Siachen avalanche survivor Lance Naik Hanumanthappa's rescue operation

NEW DELHI: A day after a massive ice-wall avalanche hit an Army post in the northern part of Siachen Glacier on February 3, rescue teams established "radio contact" with one of the 10 trapped soldiers.

This propelled the rescue teams, with sniffer dogs, earth-penetrating radars, radio signal detectors, as well as specialised ice-cutting and boring equipment, to "redouble" efforts at the avalanche site, which is located at an altitude of 19,600 feet.

"After radio contact was established on February 4, rescue operations were stalled on February 5 due to snow storms and blizzards. Soldiers deployed at such posts keep their radio sets switched on to ensure they can be traced by signals in case of a mishap," an officer said.

Once the weather cleared slightly, over 150 rescue personnel resumed attempts to locate the "general area" where the 10 soldiers were suspected to have got buried.

The trapped soldiers — Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad barely alive thanks to an air pocket and the others dead — were finally extricated around 7.30pm on Monday. While Hanumanthappa was evacuated to the Army (R&R) Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday morning, the bodies of the other nine were yet to be airlifted on Wednesday night as bad weather hit helicopter operations.