His battle for survival met with an unfortunate end. Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who survived for six days under tonnes of snow in the Siachen Glacier, died of multiple organ failure in Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi.
A highly-motivated soldier, Koppad served in difficult and challenging areas for most of his 13 years in the army. He got enrolled in 19th Battalion of Madras Regiment on October 25, 2002. He fought for 10 years in conflict areas and chose difficult terrains over "peace" postings during his service.
Lance Naik Koppad served in Mahore in Jammu and Kashmir from 2003 to 2006 where he was actively involved in counter-insurgency operations. He again volunteered to serve with 54 Rashtriya Rifles (Madras) in J&K from 2008 to 2010 and displayed indomitable courage in fighting terrorism.
Koppad also volunteered to serve in the north-east from 2010 to 2012 where he actively participated in successful operations against National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
He was serving in the super high-altitude areas of Siachen Glacier in J&K from August 2015 and was chosen for deployment at one of the highest posts at an altitude of 19,600 feet since December 2015, where personnel have to encounter temperatures of below minus 40 degrees Celsius and winds of up to 100kmph.
Remembering Koppad, a senior army officer said, "The brave solider displayed a high degree of initiative and has served 10 years in difficult and challenging areas. He was highly motivated and physically fit. He opted for challenging terrains from the beginning."
"As an individual, Hanamanthappa is an ever smiling man who shares a cordial relationship with peers and subordinates," the officer said.
Hanamanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was rescued on Monday from an altitude of 20,500 feet by a team of over 150 soldiers and two canines. He was found buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at an altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius.
After being evacuated, he was transferred to Delhi by an IAF aircraft accompanied by a critical care specialist of the force and a medical specialist from the base camp. He was being treated at the Army Hospital in Delhi by a team of neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons.
Though he survived the snow and the ice for six days, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad died of multiple-organ failure on Thursday.
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