Indian soldier pulled out alive after six days buried in snow

New Delhi: An Indian soldier declared dead has been found alive under 25 feet (8 metres) of snow, six days after he was buried by an avalanche that hit his military post in Siachen Glacier.

Rescue teams dug out Naik Hanamanthappa in one of the world's most unforgiving environments, at an altitude of 19,600 feet (6,000 m) on the Siachen Glacier.

"We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us," D.S. Hooda, an Indian army commander, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hanamanthappa has been rushed to hospital and the army said he remains in a critical condition.

Rescue workers had been searching for almost a week for 10 soldiers who went missing after the avalanche in an area known as the battleground on the roof of the world.

A day after the search began the army said the chances of finding any survivors were "very remote". In its statement on Tuesday, it said all the other soldiers were now believed dead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the deaths of the soldiers tragic and offered his condolences to their families.