Soldier found alive buried 25 feet under snow on Siachen glacier

On February 3, 10 soldiers were hit by an avalanche at an altitude of 19,600 feet.

Operations in progress to find the soldiers, who were buried alive after an avalanche hit an Army post, with specialised equipment and teams deployed at the site. Photo: Special Arrangement

An Army jawan was miraculously found alive six days after being buried under 25 feet of snow following the February 3 avalanche on the Siachen glacier.

However there is no hope for the other nine. While five bodies have been recovered remaining four have been located and efforts are on to retrieve them.

Army Commander Northern Command Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda said, "Lance Naik Hanumanthappa has been found alive. He is critical but all attempts are being made to evacuate him to RR hospital in the morning. We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us."

The Army’s rescue parties were cutting through up to 30 feet of ice at multiple locations where the soldiers could probably be buried. “The probable locations are identified using specialised equipment,” said the spokesman.

>On February 3, 10 soldiers , including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were hit by an avalanche at an altitude of 19,600 feet.

“The teams are working round the clock and observing all precautions since the unstable ice and snow in the region could trigger fresh avalanches. Rescue efforts will continue till all our soldiers are found,” said the spokesman. There was also the risk of fresh avalanches as the ice and snow in the region was unstable. Heave equipment and radars have been pressed into service in addition to rescue dogs.

Risk of fresh avalanches

The Army has already established a new camp at the location “to coordinate the rescue efforts as well as to continue vigil in the sensitive area”.

There is a >risk of fresh avalanches in the region. Heavy equipment and radars have been pressed into service, in addition to the rescue dogs.