The Betadur village in Karnataka’s Dharwad district is in relief and jubilation, but with a sense of fear and tension. This village is home to the family of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who was found alive on Monday after six days of rescue efforts under 25 feet of snow, after an avalanche in the Siachen glacier.
However, his condition remains critical.
Hanumanthappa’s mother, 62-year-old Basamma, his wife Mahadevi and his 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter were huddled together in their Betadur home on Tuesday morning, praying for Hanumanthappa’s survival.
We are happy. The entire village is happy and relieved. We were eagerly waiting for some news for the past few days. It was difficult to even believe that he was saved. Now, we need everyone to pray for his survival.Gadigeppa, Hanumanthappa’s uncle
The soldier’s mother and wife now want to travel to Delhi but are waiting for the government to send some form of transport to help them.
His pulse is low. There are arrangements being made to move him to RR hospital in New Delhi for treatment. Taking him to Delhi safely is the most important task first.Lt Colonel Joshi, Defense PRO
Ten soldiers of the Madras Regiment were buried last week after their post was hit by an avalanche at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, where the temperature was minus 45 degrees Celsius.
Nine bodies have been recovered so far. Hanumanthappa was found with only a faint pulse and was immediately shifted to a hospital.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)