Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad Survives 6 Days Trapped Under 25′ Of Avalanche Debris In Indian Controlled Kashmir In The Himalaya
Updated 2/11: On Thursday, February 11, 2016 Hanamanthappa Koppad died of his injuries sustained in the avalanche. RIP. (New York Times).
Kashmir, India – On Monday, February 8, 2016 Indian military rescue crews found Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad buried alive in avalanche debris six days after a massive avalanche struck a high altitude military outpost burying ten Indian soldiers on the Siachen Glacier. Hanamanthappa Koppad survived 6 days under 25′ in avalanche debris at nearly 6,000m in below freezing temperatures.
The avalanche occurred on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 near the Line of Control in Indian controlled Kashmir in the Karakorum Range of the Himalaya. Indian Army and Air Force rescue crews responded to the accident and have worked around the clock since the avalanche trying to located the 10 missing soldiers. They used rescue dogs and radar devices to help locate the avalanche victims – using chainsaws and shovels to cut through the debris.
After a day of searching, authorities declared that the soldiers were presumed dead as the chances of survival were so remote. Yet on February 8, they founded Hanamanthappa Koppad conscious, but with severe hypothermia and shock under 8 meters (25′) of snow (some reports say it was 11m/35′). Hanamanthappa Koppad did not die because he had an air pocket. The other nine soldiers all died and their bodies have been recovered.
The survivor was airlifted to a New Dehli hospital where “he has been placed on a ventilator to protect his airway and lungs in view of his comatose state” (BBC). They expect complications with re-warming him and establishing blood flow. According to the Tribune.com.pk, Hanamanthappa Koppad is now in “critical but stable condition.”
The Siachen Glacier is often referred to as the world’s highest battlefield. It has been patrolled by both Indian and Pakistani troops since 1984 due to a dispute over the region’s sovereignty. A ceasefire was called in 2003. According to the Associated Press, India spends “an estimated $1 million a day to keep its military base supplied.”
See Also: 10 Indian Soldiers Declared Dead After Avalanche on Siachen Glacier In Kashmir (UPDATED)
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Read more about the Indian Soldier who survives 6 days buried 25 feed deep in avalanche debris from these sources:
- Associated Press
- BBC
- WashingtonPost.com
- DailyMail.co.uk
- Weather.com
- Tribune.com.pk
