HUBBALI: An entire village of Betadur awaits the safe return of their son Hanamantappa Koppad who was miraculously found alive after five days after he was declared dead. The family members of Koppad including his baby girl Netra left for New Delhi on Tuesday evening.
Festive mood returned to the house of Koppad where Tuesday morning, special poojas were performed in the house and women were called for ‘arishana-kunkuma’, a ritual conducted by women members for the long life of their husbands. While women from Betadur attended the ritual, men were busy chalking out plans to receive Koppad to a heroic welcome.
However the family members and relatives are anxious as the doctors have said that the next two days will be crucial for the survival of Koppad. “He has come back alive and we thank god for this miracle. Entire village stood by us when our son was buried in the snow. The village heads visited the house and are asking to bring back Hanumantappa. We have planned a great welcome for our son,” said Ishwar Koppad, uncle of Hanamantappa.
Jayamma, wife of Koppad, who was in bad state for the last four days attended the rituals at home and spoke to people who came visiting her. Most of the family women remained indoors for the last five days. “I have no words to explain the joy. We hope that he will be safe and return home soon,” said Jayamma.
Jayamma along with four other family members were flown to New Delhi from Goa on Tuesday. Local MLA C S Shivalli who visited the family members assured all help from the government. Shivalli also helped the family to book the tickets to Delhi and a friend of Koppad from Betadur drove family members of Goa.
“We hope to see him (Koppad) as soon as we reach the hospital. We still not sure about his health conditions and we hope he will come out of it safely,” said Govind Koppad, the elder brother of Hanamantappa.
Hailed from a poor farming family Koppad, was determined to join the Army from his young days. As his family members point out, it was not the poverty which drove him towards joining Army, but he always dreamed of wearing the Uniform from his childhood days.
Koppad has three elder brothers who have a small agricultural land in Betadur and Hanamantappa was the only son who studied in the family.
Till recently the family lived in a small house, after which they shifted to new building during the marriage of Hanamantappa about three years ago.