NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday set aside his security protocol to meet Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad at the Army Research and Referral Hospital here.
The Prime Minister, who travels in a BMW convoy, took the front seat on a Range Rover car which did not even a have a beacon light.
Moreover, there was not adequate security at the Research and Referral Hospital during the Prime Minister’s silent visit. It appeared that even the Delhi Police was not informed about the same.
The ambulance and jammers, which are part of the Prime Minister’s cavalcade, arrived five minutes later.
Prime Minister Modi after meeting the survivor said that no words are enough to describe the endurance and indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa.
“He is an outstanding soldier. Team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping & praying for the best,” he tweeted.
Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh earlier met the Madras regiment soldier, who is said to be in a “critical” condition.
Late last night, a rescue team that had been chipping away at ice for days, found Lance Naik Hanumanthappa.
After an avalanche on February 3, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa and nine other soldiers were buried deep under the snow. A wall of ice, a kilometer wide and 800 metres high, came crashing down on their post.
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa was trapped in an air bubble, which saved his life.