The family of Hanamanthappa Kopad, who was rescued from Siachen, reached Delhi late on Tuesday evening.
Dharwad, Karnataka:
The relatives of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who was rescued from under 25 feet of snow in Siachen last night, reached Delhi late on Tuesday evening. The soldier, who is comatose, is undergoing treatment in the Army's Research and Referral hospital in Delhi.
"We are very happy to hear that he's alive... we are going to see him and are happy that despite such odds he survived," Subhash, his brother-in-law, told the media at the Delhi airport.
The family -- which had been in mourning since February 3 when a huge wall of ice fell and buried 10 soldiers in Siachen -- is overwhelmed.
"It is a rebirth for all of us," said Mahadevi, wife of Lance Naik Koppad, who lives in Karnataka's Dharwad district. "My husband's grandmother inspired him in his life. Her prayers saved him from certain death."
Mr Koppad was found alive yesterday, after 6 days of rescue efforts. He was buried under 25 feet of snow an altitude of 19,600 feet, where the temperature hovered around minus 45 degrees Celsius.
"We had almost lost hope. I didn't know what to do - I have one-and-half-year old daughter," Ms Mahadevi said. "The news of his survival brought smiles back on our faces."
Eshwar, Mr Koppad's cousin, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the soldier at the Delhi hospital. "It is heartening that a person who is Prime Minister of India visited him," he said.
Mr Eshwar also appreciated the concern shown by army officials, who had visited the family. "The army officials instilled hope (in us)... They said they will get him back alive from the glacier," he said.
He said the entire Betadur village was jubilant. "Some of them were offering prayers in temples for Hanumathappa's survival," he said.
Noted Karnataka-based industrialist and lawmaker Rajiv Chandrasekhar announced he would take care of the travel and accommodation of Mr Koppad's family in New Delhi.
"We are very happy to hear that he's alive... we are going to see him and are happy that despite such odds he survived," Subhash, his brother-in-law, told the media at the Delhi airport.
The family -- which had been in mourning since February 3 when a huge wall of ice fell and buried 10 soldiers in Siachen -- is overwhelmed.
"It is a rebirth for all of us," said Mahadevi, wife of Lance Naik Koppad, who lives in Karnataka's Dharwad district. "My husband's grandmother inspired him in his life. Her prayers saved him from certain death."
The rescued soldier's wife Mahadevi said the family was going through an ordeal after they got to know of the tragedy.
Mr Koppad was found alive yesterday, after 6 days of rescue efforts. He was buried under 25 feet of snow an altitude of 19,600 feet, where the temperature hovered around minus 45 degrees Celsius.
"We had almost lost hope. I didn't know what to do - I have one-and-half-year old daughter," Ms Mahadevi said. "The news of his survival brought smiles back on our faces."
Eshwar, Mr Koppad's cousin, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the soldier at the Delhi hospital. "It is heartening that a person who is Prime Minister of India visited him," he said.
"We are happy that he survived despite such odds," said Subhash, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Kopad's brother-in-law.
Mr Eshwar also appreciated the concern shown by army officials, who had visited the family. "The army officials instilled hope (in us)... They said they will get him back alive from the glacier," he said.
He said the entire Betadur village was jubilant. "Some of them were offering prayers in temples for Hanumathappa's survival," he said.
Noted Karnataka-based industrialist and lawmaker Rajiv Chandrasekhar announced he would take care of the travel and accommodation of Mr Koppad's family in New Delhi.
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