Hubli: In the hour of grief for Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad's family, people have come out in large number to pay their last respect to the brave soldier. Hanamanthappa's mortal remains are lying in state at the Nehru ground in Hubli, Karnataka, for the public to pay their last respects.
The last rites of Hanamanthappa, who died on Thursday after battling for life since his miraculous survival in Siachen, will be held at his native village in Dharwad district in north Karnataka on Friday with full state honours.
The body was kept at KIMS hospital in Hubli on Thursday night and shifted to Nehru Ground in the city for public viewing before last rites in the afternoon at Betadur village in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad.
Hanamanthappa will be given full state honours, Dharwad District in charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with his Cabinet colleagues HK Patil and Vinay Kulkarni, Opposition leader in the assembly Jagadish Shettar, among others, received the body at the airport.
The state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the bereaved family. Siddaramaiah has also announced a site, land, job for Hanamanthappa's wife and memorial for the braveheart, the CM's office said.
Hanamanthappa, and nine other soldiers of the 19 Madras Regiment, were struck by an avalanche on the morning of February 3. Hanamanthappa survived under 35 feet of snow for six days, before he was pulled out.
Hailing from Betadur village in Dharwad district of Karnataka, Hanamanthappa was a highly-motivated soldier and had served in difficult and challenging areas for most of his 13 years in the army. The 33-year-old soldier had enrolled in 19th Battalion of Madras Regiment on October 25, 2002.
He is survived by his wife Mahadevi Ashok Bilebal and a two-year-old daughter Netra Koppad.
He was suffering from multiple organ failure and was on life support system ever since he was rescued from the icy heights of Siachen. He was being treated by a team of neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons at the R&R hospital. He was administered fluids and drugs to bring up his blood pressure, besides antibiotics but his condition kept on deteriorating.
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