Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who miraculously survived an avalanche in Siachen that killed nine colleagues, has been put on ventilator support, the first medical bulletin released by the Army Research and Referral Hospital said. The Lance Naik remains comatose and 'extremely critical', the report said.

"Hanumanthappa has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction. He remains extremely critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hours," the medical bulletin said.

"He was severely dehydrated, hypothermic, hypoxic, hypoglycemic and in shock. On recovery, he was found to be conscious but drowsy and disoriented," the bulletin said.

Hanumanthappa was flown to New Delhi  from the Siachen Glacier this morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital. His condition is critical but stable and he is undergoing various tests in the hospital, army sources said.


Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive yesterday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius. Nine other personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), of Madras Regiment have died, according to Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander.