New Delhi/Dharwad: Siachen braveheart Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, the proud son of Karnataka, who died after he was miraculously rescued alive from beneath snow bed of over 35 feet after an avalanche hit a post in Siachen glacier was awarded the Sena Medal on Sunday.

Lance Naik Hanamanthappa’s wife, Mahadevi, received the medal from Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

Along with him, fifteen other brave hearts will be awarded gallantry awards. Five of them made the supreme sacrifice.

It may be recalled that ten soldiers were buried under snow after their camp in the northern part of the Siachen glacier was hit by a major avalanche. Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, an Indian soldier with the 19th battalion of the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army was one of them and he survived the massive avalanche even after remaining buried under snow for over six days. However, Hanumanthappa died on 11 February, 2016 due to multiple organ failure. During Hanumanthappa’s treatment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him at the hospital. Hanumanthappa hailed from Betadur of Kundagol taluk of Dharwad.