The bodies of nine Indian soldiers who tragically lost their lives in an avalanche that hit an army post close to the Line of Control in Siachen were brought to the capital today.
The soldiers were honoured with a wreath ceremony conducted at Palam Airport in Delhi, led by Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag. Their bodies will be flown out by Indian Air Force planes to be handed over to their families in different parts of the country: Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Delhi: Army Chief General Dalbir Singh pays tribute to 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #Siachen avalanche. pic.twitter.com/KGLb975ore
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Delhi: Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha pays tribute to 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #Siachen avalanche. pic.twitter.com/XLN3Tz9q2K
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Wreath laying ceremony of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #Siachen avalanche, underway in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/dkQnbQh0PV
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Mortal remains of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche brought to Delhi, wreath laying underway pic.twitter.com/M0hAlQdotM
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Mortal remains of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche brought to Delhi, wreath laying underway pic.twitter.com/zUVK6IqYmy
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Mortal remains of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche brought to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/IrOVaATFuF
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Mortal remains of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche brought to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/oiUfLtazlg
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Mortal remains of 9 soldiers who lost their lives in #SiachenAvalanche brought to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/nT2S0HKa6U
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2016
Ten Indian Army personnel were buried under 25 feet of snow when an avalanche struck their post situated at approximately 20,000 feet above sea level on 3 February. Nine of them lost their lives instantly.
The 10th soldier, Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, who was trapped in an air pocket was found alive after six days, and fought for his life for three days in the hospital before he finally passed away due to multiple organ failure.
He was given a national salutation on 11 February at Brar Square. Amidst several others, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid homage to the braveheart who is survived by his young wife, and a two-year-old daughter.
The nine soldiers who lost their lives in Siachen:
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