Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed, of Kurnool, found dead in Siachen avalanche

Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed, who belonged to Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, was one of the nine soldiers who braved the Siachen sub-zero temperatures and succumbed to an avalanche that buried them. The loan survivor in the tragedy was Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, also of the Madras Regiment, who was battling for life in the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi. Along with Mustaq, the other eight soldiers had died when tons of ice buried them. Lance Naik Hanumanthappa was buried under 25 ft of snow. While Hanumanthappa was lucky to find an air pocket that kept him alive, the others were not so lucky and paid with their lives in the call of duty. Sepoy Mustaq lay buried in the snow, and his body was found on February 9. The rescue operation was on for the past one week. Except for Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, only bodies of the other soldiers were found. Mustaq is survived by wife and son. He belonged to Parnapalle in Kurnool district, which has been plunged into mourning for the brave son.