PM Narendra Modi visits soldier who miraculously survived Siachen avalanche

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who was miraculously found alive after remaining under a huge mass of snow for six days at Siachen Glacier, saying he is an "outstanding soldier" whose "endurance & indomitable spirit" cannot be described in words.

Modi went to Army's Research and Referral Hospital here to see Hanumanthappa soon after he was airlifted from Siachen and prayed for his best.

"No words are enough to describe the endurance & 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 & praying for the best," Modi added.

The Lance Naik was flown here from Siachen Glacier this morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital.

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."

Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive yesterday, 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 ( LoC) with Pakistan. The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius.

Nine other personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer ( JCO), 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 has said.