Kundgol (Dharwad dist) , DHNS: After six full days of anxious moments, members of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad’s family at Betadur village in Kundgol taluk heaved a sigh of relief and had smiles on their faces, after being told that he had survived the Siachen avalanche.

Their mobile phones started ringing at around 2 am on Tuesday and they got the news of Koppad’s rescue.

After sleepless nights and tension since Koppad went missing in the avalanche and was feared dead, they were full of joy and distributed sweets. Their relatives and villagers joined them in the happy mood.

“I was praying god for the safety of my son, who is the pillar of this family. My hope was not shattered and it is really a happy news for us,” said an emotional Basavva, Koppad’s mother.

“Wherever he is, being alive is most important. We could not eat and sleep properly for the past six days,” she said.

His wife Mahadevi said, “I am proud to be the wife of a courageous soldier. I believed that he was alive, whatever others said. Now, it is like a rebirth for him”.

“We did not have any official information from the district administration and are happy with the news now.

My husband’s colleagues in the Army have also infor-med us over the phone about his survival,” she said.

A pall of gloom had descended on the village in the last six days. Many people, including distant relatives of the family, had visited Koppad’s house.

The news of Koppad being rescued and shifted to Delhi changed the entire mood, as it put an end to all rumours. People visited the soldier’s house in groups and expressed happiness. The residents hoped that Koppad would recover fast and would be ready to serve the country again.

Koppad’s mother, wife and nephew, in the afternoon, left for Delhi, where he is being treated.