Siachen survivor critical after braving nature's fury; India prays for braveheart

As a sigh of relief settled across the nation when Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad was rescued alive from under 25 feet of snow at the Siachen, the nation on Tuesday joined hands to pray for his speedy recovery.

A special prayer was offered for Hanamanthappa at Ganga Ghat in Varanasi in the evening while his home town in Betadur village, Karnataka's Dharwad district witnessed local people offering prayers at temples for him.

Students and citizens in some parts of the nation were seen taking part in a candlelight vigil for Hanamanthappa who is battling for his life in the hospital.

Soon after the rescue operation, he was immediately rushed to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi where his condition is stated to be critical.

"My son is brave and I knew he would come back to me," his 62-year-old mother Basamma, who reached Delhi tonight, said.

Hanamanthappa's wife Mahadevi too expressed her happiness. "Since TUesday morning I am praying for his health. I know he will be all right," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag too joined the nation in praying for brave jawan.

According to the official health release, Hanamanthappa remains extremely critical and the next 24 to 48 hours is crucial due to the complications caused by re-warming and establishment of blood flow to the cold parts of the body.

At the time of rescue, he was severely dehydrated, hypothermic, hypoxic, hypoglycemic and in shock. He was treated with passive external re-warming, warm intravenous fluids and humidified warm oxygen.

Social media is flooded with posts where people not only from India but also those living abroad are wishing for his health and speedy recovery.