Siachen miracle: Jawan found alive after 6 days

Jammu, February 8 

An Army jawan who was buried under 25 feet of snow following an avalanche in the Siachen glacier was today miraculously found alive in critical condition after six days of rescue efforts.

"It was a miraculous rescue, all efforts are being made to evacuate Lance Naik Hanaman Thappa to the RR hospital in the morning," Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander, told PTI.

He said, "Five bodies have been recovered so far and four bodies have been identified. All other soldiers are regrettably no more with us."

He hoped that another miracle continues with Thappa, who hails from Karnataka.

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and nine other ranks of Madras Regiment were buried after their post was hit by the avalanche at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan where the tempreature was minus 45° Celsius. 

Siachen is the world’s highest active battlefield, contested by India and Pakistan since 1984 when India launched Operation Meghdoot. — Agencies