Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, three service chiefs at the wreath laying ceremony at Brar Square in New Delhi. Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's body will be flown back to his home in Dharwad, Karnataka for the final rites which are likely to take place tomorrow.

Hanamanthappa, who was battling for his life at the Armys Research & Referral hospital in New Delhi, breathed his last on Thursday morning.

Really sorry to inform everyone that LNk Hanamanthappa is no more. He breathed his last breath at 11:45 a.m. today, Army officials said on Thursday.

He was admitted at the hospital on Tuesday morning and was on ventilator since. His condition steadily deteriorated due to multiple organ failure.

The soldier of 19 Madras Regiment was rescued alive on Monday night after being buried under 35 feet of snow for six days. He was flown to Delhi on Tuesday in an Air Force aircraft. The avalanche had buried their camp on February 3.

He is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter.