India soldier rescued in Siachen battles for life

Officials said he is currently comatose  and has been put under ventilator.

"He is currently comatose and continues to be in shock with low blood pressure. He has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction. Fortunately there was no cold exposure related frost bite or bony injuries to him. He is being treated by a team of intensivists, neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons," an official statement released by the Indian government said on the health condition of the soldier.

"He has been treated with fluids, drugs to bring up his blood pressure and antibiotics. He has been placed on a ventilator to protect his airway and lungs in view of his comatose state. He remains extremely critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hrs due to the complications caused by re warming and establishment of blood flow to the cold parts of the body,” it said.

He was found alive from under more than thirty feet of snow.

"The rescue operations which were launched at Siachen to locate and retrieve the ten soldiers buried under more than thirty feet of snow and ice after an avalanche stuck their Post in the early hours of 3rd February is in progress. It is to the credit and dogged determination of the rescue teams which were working under extreme conditions that they have managed to extricate Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad alive from under more than thirty feet of snow," read a government statement.

"Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad has exhibited a super-human feat by surviving for six days buried under snow. He has been evacuated by air to Army Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi for expert medical care," it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Siachen avalanche survivor, Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, in hospital.

The soldier was airlifted from the glacier and admitted to the Army R&R Hospital in New Delhi earlier today.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the condition of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa.

He spent about ten minutes with the soldier. He met the team of doctors and medical staff attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, and emphasized that no effort should be spared in his treatment.

"No words are enough to describe the endurance and indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier," the Prime Minister said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh was also present.

According to reports, the condition of the soldier is said to be critical.

The mortal remains of nine martyrs including a Junior Commissioned Officer were also retrieved by the rescue teams.

Indian Army’s Udhampur-based spokesperson, Col SD Goswami in a statement issued to IBNS said, “It is to the credit and dogged determination of the rescue teams which were working under extreme conditions that they have managed to extricate Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad alive from under more than thirty feet of snow."

“Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad has exhibited a super-human feat by surviving for six days buried under snow,” the Col Goswami said, adding he has been evacuated by air to Army Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi for expert medical care," he said.