'Deeply pained' Sonia Gandhi writes emotional letter to Siachen avalanche survivor Hanumanthappa's mother

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Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote a letter to the mother of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad who was found alive on Monday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at an altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius.

In the letter Sonia has written - "I was deeply pained to know about the death of ten brave soldiers of the Indian Army in the horrific avalanche in Siachen. But the news about your son has shown a ray of hope. Living in insurmountable circumstances in a place like Siachen, the soldiers brave against all odds to save our country, any appreciation is less for them," Gandhi said in her letter to the Lance Naik's 62-year-old mother.

"I pray to lord that he cures such a brave heart quickly so that he can start his routine activities and serve this nation yet again. I once again pray for Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's quick recovery and long life," she added.

Letter written by Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi to Smt Basamma, mother of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. pic.twitter.com/j4cAhXa8lL

— INC India (@INCIndia) February 10, 2016

After being evacuated, he was transfered to to Delhi by an IAF aircraft accompanied by a critical care specialist of the force and a medical specialist from the base camp.

Hanamanthappa is being treated at Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi by a team of intensivists, neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons. He has been administered fluids and drugs to bring up his blood pressure, besides antibiotics.

"He continues to battle the odds and his medical condition remains very critical," a medical bulletin issued by the hospital said today.

(With Agency inputs)