Siachen Miracle: A look at Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad's illustrious career

33-year-old Hanamanthappa Koppad was enrolled in 19th Battalion of the Madras Regiment on 25 Oct 2002. The individual displayed high degree of initiative and has served 10 years in difficult and challenging areas out of 13 years of total service. During his illustrious career the individual has served in Mahore (J&K) from 2003 to 2006 where he was actively involved in counter insurgency operations. He again volunteered to serve with 54 Rashtriya Rifles (MADRAS) in J&K from 2008 to 2010 where he displayed indomitable courage and gallant in fighting terrorism during his tenure.

Koppad also volunteered to serve in the North East from 2010 to 2012 where he actively participated in successful operations against NDFB and ULFA. He was serving in the super high altitude areas of Siachen Glacier from Aug 2015 and was chosen for deployment on one of the highest posts at an altitude of 19600 feet since Dec 2015, encountering temperature well below minus 40 degrees Centigrade and winds up to 100 km/hr. He is happily married to Smt Mahadevi Ashok Bilebal and is blessed with a two year old daughter (Netra Koppad).