On Twitter, Big B rued the fact that India trended on 'birthdays and cricket and film promotions,' but not on prayers for those who served the country under 'extreme circumstances.' Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad is currently in coma and has been placed on ventilator support at a hospital in Delhi.
T 2140 - Lance Naik Hanumanthappa 6 days below 25 feet of snow in Siachen, our jawan, our protector, critical ..OUR PRAYERS EVER FOR HIM !!
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) February 9, 2016
T 2140 - India Trends on birthdays and Cricket and Film promotions .. NOT on prayers for our Jawan Lance Naik Hunumanthappa, lying critical
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) February 9, 2016
T 2140 - We pray for him that protects us in extreme circumstances and serves his country .,PRAYERS FOR L/N HUNUMANTHAPPA and his recovery
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) February 9, 2016
Aamir Khan and Rishi Kapoor echoed Big B's thoughts:
Kudos to the recovery team who have fought against all odds in the most difficult conditions to bring about this miracle (2/3)
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) February 9, 2016
Our salute to all his comrades whose lives were lost in this calamity. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Jai Hind. (3/3)
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) February 9, 2016
Jako rakhe Saiyaan maar sake na koi! Prayers for you Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad pic.twitter.com/bNZtP5XYHw
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) February 10, 2016
Manoj Bajpayee wrote:
I pray for the speedy recovery of our brave soldier lancenaik hanumanthappa. Words will fall short to describe his endurance.jai hind.
— Manoj Bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) February 10, 2016
Anupam Kher wrote:
Wishing and praying for speedy recovery of our Hero Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. #SiachenMiracle pic.twitter.com/oMmSIc6wEO
Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 9, 2016
Sachin Tendulkar also tweeted his 'salute' to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa and the 'courageous soldiers' who lost their lives in the avalanche.
Praying for Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. Fighter, braveheart. Salute to the courageous soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 9, 2016
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited him at the Army Research and Referral hospital in Delhi, had earlier tweeted:
No words are enough to describe the endurance & indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He is an outstanding soldier: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 9, 2016
The jawan had been trapped since February 3, when a wall of ice a kilometer wide and 800 metres high came crashing down on his army post, killing nine of his colleagues. He was rescued by a team that put him on a chopper from the highest helipad on earth on the Saltoro ridge of Siachen.
The Siachen Glacier located at the northern tip of Kashmir is the world's highest and coldest battlefield. More soldiers have died here because of the weather and difficult terrain than in battle. At least 869 officers and soldiers have been killed there since the mid-1980s.
