Jai Hanumanthappa, Jai Jai Hanumanthappa

The prayers of thousands of Indians for the recovery of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, hero of Siachen who survived a week under the snow following an avalanche, have not borne fruit. The brave soldier succumbed to his trauma at 11.40 am on Thursday. Lance Naik Hanumanthappa was rescued by an Army team in dramatic circumstances on the Siachen, when his buried body stirred as the combing team shovelled the ice. He was rescued and flown to the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. He was admitted to the hospital with liver and kidney failure and other complications. He went into coma and succumbed to the trauma in comatose condition. Even in his death, Lance Naik Hanumanthappa proved that man's survival was possible even under the most trying conditions such as in Siachen. One can brave even an avalanche and being buried under 25 ft snow, but one can hope to survive if there was rescue. Lance Niak Hanumanthappa is survived by wife, baby daughter and mother. One aspect that is nagging is why the Army and security agencies take time to mobilize rescue or offensive operations. The best equipment available in the world should be at the disposal of army and security agencies. This would eliminate delays.