Bengaluru, Feb 11 (IANS) The Karnataka government is arranging a plane to fly the body of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad from Delhi to Dharwad along with his family members, an official said on Thursday.
"The chartered aircraft will fly to Panjim (in Goa) or Hubbali by evening for taking it to (his native place) Betadur near Dharwad," the official told IANS here.
The 33-year-old soldier breathed his last at an army hospital in Delhi after battling for life for three days.
Koppad was miraculously rescued from the Siachen glacier where he was buried for under 35 feet of ice after an avalanche hit an army patrol on February 3.
Koppad's family members, including wife Mahadevi, mother Basavva, two-year-old daughter Netra and brother Govindappa, will accompany the body on the plane.
The last rites will be done on Friday with full state honours, the official said.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the village near Dharward about 430 km from here where Koppad's family lives.
Police made elaborate arrangements to regulate crowds as people in large numbers gathered at his house.
Koppad belonged to the 19th battalion of Madras Regiment, which he joined 13 years ago.
Koppad remained buried under 35 feet of ice for five nights before he was rescued in the Siachen glacier. He was brought to Delhi on February 9 and died early on Thursday.
