Siachen avalanche survivor Hanumanthappa sinking; condition extremely critical

The best is not proving good enough for Siachen miracle man Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, whose condition deteriorated on Wednesday at Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital here, where he was flown in a day before.

The lone survivor of an avalanche at the world's highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier, on February 3, is being attended by a team of medical specialists from R&R hospital and AIIMS.

Even as the country holds its breath for him to get well and his family by his side, Hanumanthappa, who was pulled out alive on Monday night from under the 25-30ft debris of avalanche six days after getting buried, "continues to remain extremely critical with evidence of oxygen deprivation to the brain", Army said.

According to a health bulletin issued on Wednesday – second in the day – by R&R hospital, "There is evidence of pneumonia in both lungs. His multi-organ dysfunction state continues unabated. His condition has deteriorated despite aggressive therapy and supportive care."

Earlier in the day, Army said the medical team treating him at R&R is monitoring his situation continuously and using the best expertise and resources available.

Five members of the family, including his wife Mahadevi Ashok, and 62-year-old mother Basamma reached Delhi on Tuesday night to be with Hanumanthappa who along with nine other soldiers of 19 Madras regiment were guarding the Sonam post located at an altitude of 19,500 feet in the northern glacier of Siachen when an 800 feet by 400 feet ice wall fell on them.

While he was extricated out of the ice, the rest died and their mortal remains found. However, bad weather at the Indian Army base camp in Siachen hampered their remains to be carried back to their homes.

"When weather permits, we will airlift their bodies from the glacier," Defence Ministry spokesperson Nitin Wakankar said.