PM Narendra Modi visits soldier, hails his 'indomitable spirit'

Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday 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 and indomitable spirit' 0cannot be described in words.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh and head of the medical team in the ward at a ward of Army's Research & Referral Hospital where Lance Naik Hanumanthappa who is critical. Pic/PTI

Modi went to Army's Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi to see Hanumanthappa soon after he was airlifted from Siachen and prayed for his 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

Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive on Monday, 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.