Bengaluru: The last rites of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who passed away today after battling for life since his miraculous survival in Siachen, will be held at his native village in Dharwad district tomorrow with full state honours. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will receive the body at Hubballi Airport tonight and pay his last respects, the CM's office said.
The body will be kept at KIMS hospital in Hubballi tonight and shifted to Nehru Ground in the city for public viewing before last rites in the afternoon tomorrow at Betadur village in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district in north Karnataka.
Hanamanthappa will be given full state honours, Dharwad District in charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said.
Giving details about preparations for the last rites, he said the body will be kept at KIMS hospital in the night and for public viewing from 7 AM to 10 AM at Nehru Grounds tomorrow.
"All arrangements for public viewing and last rites have been made at his village, it will be done with state honours," he added.
Left parties demand ‘exemplary compensation’
Left parties today condoled the death of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad and asked the Centre to offer "exemplary" compensation to families of the braveheart and other soldiers who were killed by an avalanche in Siachen. "We convey our sympathy to the family of Hanamanthappa. He and the other soldiers of the Madras Regiment died in tragic conditions. "The government must offer them exemplary compensation, not the normal type. It also must give employment to some of their family members," CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said.
Party national secretary D Raja also paid tributes to Hanamanthappa and termed the soldier's demise as "shocking" after the latter raised hopes of survival. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted,"Sad to learn about Lance Naik Hanamanthappa. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of ten brave souls who are no longer with us." Koppad was among 10 soldiers of 19th Battalion of Madras Regiment in a high-altitude military post which was struck by the avalanche and nine of them, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, died earlier.
