Siachen braveheart: A year on Hanumanthappa Koppad awaits a memorial, wife a job

His was a story of disaster, hope and ultimately tragedy, Lance Naik Hanumantappa Koppad was one of the soldiers who was killed in the aftermath of an avalanche in siachen in 2016. A year after his death, promises made to the martyr's family remain unfulfilled.

The Karnataka government had promised a memorial for the martyr at his home town but a year on, the memorial is still stuck in red-tapism. Officials from the Karnataka chief minister's office said that the funds for the memorial has been been released but estimate that the inauguration of the same is unlikely to happen before two long months. The memorial was supposed to mark his death anniversary. His final resting place awaits the memorial.

The soldier was awarded a service medal posthumously on Januray 26, 2017 that his widow received. What she didn't receive was the government job that was promised. However, the government has honoured the family with four acres of land and a site. Sources from the government suggest that the family has asked for a sainik school to be built at Hanumantappa Koppad's home town and the same is under consideration. The government will only recommend the same since army schools come under the Centre government.

Hanumantappa Koppad survived the avalanche and was rescued alive but succumbed on February 11.