ISRO chief K Sivan's tears & PM Modi's hug make netizens emotional

After a pep talk to scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gave a long and tight hug to an emotional ISRO chief K Sivan, who was in tears, unable to come to terms over lander Vikram's unsuccessful bid to soft-land on moon. Modi, in his address at ISRO centre here, asked scientists t to get disheartened by hurdles in lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 and asserted that re will be "new dawn".

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sooner than Prime Minister concluded his address, Sivan accompanied him to see him off. At this juncture, Prime Minister, who was on his way to get into his car, gave him a "reassuring" and tight hug, lending his shoulder to teary-eyed Sivan. Prime Minister embraced Sivan as he made secret of his deep disappointment as ambitious venture did t pan out as intended. Modi also said in his address that country's determination to land on moon has become even stronger.

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Just as video of Modi hugging K Sivan went viral, true sentiments of common people started pouring on social media. One user wrote: "Heartwarming gesture by PM Modi to console Dr Sivan. This is how an "unseen hurdle" (t a failure in any sense) should be dealt with...With Understanding and Empathy being torch bearers in times of crises!" [sic], while or said: "This is heartbreaking,  best ever hug" [sic]. Here are some tweets -

"We came very close, but we need to cover more ground.... Learnings from today will make us stronger and better," he told scientists, adding, " best is yet to come in our programme. India is with you." Earlier, Sivan, who his colleagues say is a task-master but a simple and genial individual, anunced -- his voice choking -- that lander had lost communication with ground stations, and data is being analysed.

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Prime Minister was present at ISRO centre to witness touch-down early Saturday and returned less than six hours later to address scientists and nation at 8 am. soft landing of lander Vikram did t go according to ISRO's plan as it lost contact with ground station.

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(With PTI inputs)