Siachen miracle: Lance Naik Hanumanthappa's family hopes for another miracle

Bengaluru: “I knew he would come back,” said an anxious mother Basamma, who arrived in Delhi airport to meet her son -Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad. The soldier miraculously survived five days buried under 35 feet of snow in Siachen. She never stopped believing in a miracle.

Despite being declared dead and with over four obituaries being written about him, the 30-year-old jawan survived the ordeal.

As the family landed in Delhi, they were anxious, but there was also hope in the mother Mahadevi’s eyes. His one-year-old daughter Nethra was also present, but looked puzzled about what was going on.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar who immediately flew to Delhi to assess the condition of soldier admitted in Delhi Army Hospital not only made arrangements for the family to fly to Delhi but came to receive the family at Delhi Airport on Tuesday.

He said, “The family was very anxious like you, me and the entire country. When his mother told me that she always believed that her son was alive, I told her that she is very blessed mother. Hanumanthappa’s grit, determination is an inspiration for all. I am happy that his family is here in Delhi with the soldier. I pray he recovers quickly and is reunited with his family.”

Hanumanthappa’s mother, wife along with their daughter, along with two uncles, reach Delhi on Tuesday. They were taken by the army to a guest house and finally met him at 9pm.

They were again allowed to meet Hanumanthappa on Wednesday morning. Regarding his health, the Rajya Sabha MP said, “The doctor told us that he is still critical and will be under observation.”